Department for Transport

Heathrow Airport: Road Traffic

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on local road networks.

Jesse Norman: The Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) was designated on 26 July 2018, paving the way for a development consent application. As part of the development of the Airports NPS, an Appraisal of Sustainability was undertaken which included analysis of surface impacts for all three options shortlisted by the Airports Commission. As part of the surface access requirements in the Airports NPS, the Government has specified that any applicant for development consent must submit a surface access strategy as part of their application.

Heathrow Airport: Motor Vehicles

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the number of (a) light goods vehicles, (b) heavy goods vehicles and (c) private cars that access Heathrow airport on a daily basis.

Jesse Norman: For goods vehicles, the Department draws upon the Airports Commission’s assessment of road freight numbers as published in their Appraisal Framework Module 4 - Surface Access Freight Impacts Study. In October 2017, the Department published within its Updated Appraisal Report: Airport Capacity in the South East, details of the estimated surface access trips for both highway and public transport trips for each of the airport expansion options as inputs to its non-flight carbon assessment. Details of the estimates for annual highway trips for the Heathrow Airport options are set out in the following table: Annual highway trips (car and taxi) by passengers and employees at Heathrow, DfT17 central forecasts (millions) Highway vehicle trips 2026203020402050No Expansion57.559.462.766.3LHR Extended Northern Runway67.775.278.282.1LHR Northwest Runway67.777.780.785.5Source: Department for Transport: Table A.2 Updated Appraisal Report: Airport Capacity in the South East (October 2017) As specified in the Airports National Policy Statement, it will be for an applicant for development consent for the Heathrow Northwest runway scheme to submit a surface access strategy to the Planning Inspectorate alongside their application.

Motorcycles: Safety

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the risk to motorcyclists of inexperienced (a) HGV and (b) car drivers; and what plans he has to improve the driver education on motorcyclists.

Jesse Norman: In the forthcoming refreshed Road Safety Statement, motorcyclists are one of the priority groups that the Department will be addressing. In 2017, there were 124 accidents involving a motorcyclist and a car in which the Contributory Factor ‘learner or inexperienced driver/rider’ was allocated by a police officer to the car driver; and 661 accidents in which it was allocated to the motorcycle rider. There were no accidents involving a motorcyclist and a HGV, in which the Contributory Factor ‘learner or inexperienced driver/rider’ was allocated to the HGV driver; and 17 accidents in which it was allocated to the motorcycle rider.

Motorcycles: Accidents

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made on the number of motorcyclists (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in each year between 2014 and 2017.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made on the average weekly number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries to motorcyclists from 2014 to 2017.

Jesse Norman: The tables below provide the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured between 2014 and 2017 and the weekly average which is derived from this. The annual data can be found in published table RAS30066 here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743654/ras30066.ods  Reported motorcycle user casualties, Great Britain, 2014-2017 Number of casualties Weekly averageYearKilledSerious KilledSerious20143395,289 710120153655,042 79720163195,553 610620173495,592 7107  Source: DfT Stats19 Please note that the number of serious injuries provided is as reported by the police. Since 2016, changes in severity reporting systems for a large number of police forces mean that serious injury figures, and to a lesser extent slight injuries, are not comparable with earlier years.

Motorcycles: Accidents

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made on the proportion of motorcycle fatalities that occurred on (a) urban roads, (b) rural roads and (c) motorways in each year between 2014 and 2017.

Jesse Norman: The table below provides the number and percentage of motorcycle fatalities by road class in Great Britain for the years 2014 to 2017, which are available in published table RAS30018 at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743613/ras30018.ods. Reported motorcycle fatalities by road class, Great Britain, 2014 to 2017 Number/ Per cent  2014201520162017 NumberPer centNumberPer centNumberPer centNumberPer centUrban972911632101329527Rural23770241662116624871Motorways51827262All roads339100365100319100349100Source: DfT STATS19

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Highways England is making on reducing levels of NO2 on the strategic road network.

Jesse Norman: Highways England have been undertaking extensive research into potential air quality solutions for the strategic road network that could reduce levels of NO2. They have explored a wide range of ideas including the effectiveness of different traffic management options, understanding obstacles to greater use of electric vans on the network and different types of barrier design. Based on all their research, they have robust evidence that a 9.5 metre high barrier can help reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide behind the barrier and have developed a programme to identify potential sites around the network.

Transport: Charities

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of implementing the EU Directive set out in Regulation EC No. 1073/2009 on local charity groups who provide free or reduced cost transport.

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that implementing Eu Directive set out in Regulation EC No.1073/2009 will not prevent people with a disability from accessing local transport services.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: EC Regulation 1073/2009 deals with access to the international market for coach and bus operations. It includes within its provisions, a legal basis so that vehicles from the European Union can operate in the United Kingdom. It does not cover passenger accessibility issues nor non-commercial operations such as local charity groups.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to Highways England on the permitted length of roadworks in any one stretch.

Jesse Norman: The Department expects Highways England to maximise the availability of traffic lanes and minimise delay as far as possible, and this is reflected in the performance indicators that the Department has set. Highways England are committed to minimising disruption from roadworks and are exploring managing work in different ways to find the best way to achieve this, while also ensuring good value for public money.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the comparative output of CO2 per mile of diesel and petrol cars.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy Model in July 2018 alongside the Road to Zero strategy. The model estimates the average tailpipe emissions of air pollutants, the greenhouse gas emissions and the energy consumption of a range of fuel and powertrain options for cars, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over the period to 2050. More information on the development and outputs of the model is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739462/transport-energy-model.pdf.

Department for Transport: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The department consists of the central department and four agencies: the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), andVehicle Certification Agency (VCA). All the department’s contract terms contain a clause which requires payment to be made of all sums due by the Contractor to the sub-contractor as soon as possible and in any event not exceeding 30 days from the receipt of invoice.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the difference in emissions from Euro 6 diesel engines and petrol engines.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy Model in July 2018 alongside the Road to Zero strategy. The model estimates the average tailpipe emissions of air pollutants, the greenhouse gas emissions and the energy consumption of a range of fuel, powertrain and Euro class options, which includes Euro 6 diesel and petrol engines for cars, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). More information on the development and outputs of the model is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739462/transport-energy-model.pdf.

Motor Vehicles: Sandwell

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) diesel  (b) petrol and (c) hybrid vehicles are registered in the Borough of Sandwell.

Jesse Norman: At the end of June 2018, there were (a) 75,104 diesel, (b) 78,809 petrol, and (c) 1,123 hybrid vehicles registered to an address in the borough of Sandwell.

High Speed Two Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the costs of Phase 1 of High Speed Two at today's prices.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The anticipated final cost of the HS2 project is reported at the most recent Spending Review price base i.e. 1q 2015. Consideration will be given on whether the price base will be revised as part of the anticipated 2019 Spending Review Settlement.

High Speed Two Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, will he publish the revised business case for Phase 1 of HS2 in the event that any of the Phase 2 lines are not built.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The next update of the business case for HS2 will be published prior to the authorisation of Notice to Proceed for Stage 2 (main construction) of the Main Work Civils Contracts, for Phase One. As with previous business cases, this will show the value for money of each phase of the network as well as the ‘full Y’. The Government remains committed to fulfilling its manifesto commitment to progressing High Speed 2. As set out in DfT’s Single Departmental Plan, the Government’s stated intention is to deliver the ‘full Y’ network.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people who live in the 45Lden noise contour around Heathrow airport.

Jesse Norman: The Appraisal of Sustainability that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement (NPS) provides a strategic level assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of expansion, including on noise. The Appraisal of Sustainability makes it clear that for the purposes of this strategic level assessment, it would not be suitable to produce noise contours and therefore estimate numbers of people affected below 54dB LAeq, 16 hour for the daytime or 48 dB LAeq, 8 hours for the night time. This is because variability in aircraft position in the air at these greater distances from the airport, and airport noise being closer to background noise levels, result in a lower level of certainty. The Airports NPS sets out specific mitigations for aircraft noise that the Government expects to see delivered. These include the applicant putting forward plans for a noise envelope which is tailored to local priorities and includes noise performance targets. The applicant will also need to develop plans for a runway alternation scheme that provides communities affected with predictable periods of respite. The Government also expects a ban on scheduled night flights for a period of six and a half hours. These supporting measures will be finalised through the planning process and subject to public consultation. These will then be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State in determining an application for development consent.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to close the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency office on (a) Longview Road, Swansea, (b) Upper Forest Way, Swansea and (c) the Trinity House office at Kings Dock, Swansea.

Jesse Norman: There are no plans to close the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s offices at either Longview Road or Upper Forest Way in Swansea. These remain in the DVLA’s long term estates strategy. The property at Trinity House, Kings Dock is not part of the DVLA estate.

Department for Transport: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Grayling: 28 NDAs relating to Brexit Preparations have been signed between DfT and its stakeholders since July 2016. Government Departments continue to engage with a wide range of businesses to understand their priorities and issues as we leave the European Union, both to inform our negotiating position, and our preparations in the unlikely event of there being no deal. Departments can make use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when structuring their engagements on preparations for leaving the EU, which is a crucial component of planning. It is for departments to determine the manner in which engagement with stakeholders takes place. Given the sensitive nature of some discussions, there may be limited circumstances in which departments have used NDAs to enable those conversations, thereby reaching more stakeholders than would otherwise be the case. NDAs are also a common component of contractual arrangements that are used to protect commercial considerations of the parties involved or to protect sensitives around the development of Government policy. It is entirely normal practice to use such agreements and they are therefore sometimes necessary for Government departments that are responsible for managing their preparations for leaving the EU.

West Coast Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the Christmas timetable for the West Coast Main Line.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not publish timetables as this is the responsibility of individual Train Operating Companies and Network Rail. Information on travel over the Christmas period, including plans for major engineering works, is already available via the National Rail enquiries website which notes that some routes may not be completely accurate until 6 weeks before travel.

Road Works

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will reverse its decision not to extend the lane rental scheme to trunk roads operated by Highways England.

Jesse Norman: The Lane Rental Scheme mentioned is available to all highway authorities that wish to use it and that apply to the Secretary of State in line with bidding guidance published in September 2018.Highways England believe that they have sufficient powers under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and other procedures in place, to encourage utility companies to complete works on the Strategic Road Network quickly and effectively. The Department has not made any decision to exclude authorities from Lane Rental Schemes.

Road Works

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) incentives and (b) sanctions are available to Highways England to promote compliance with its instructions on roadworks undertaken by utility companies.

Jesse Norman: The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 enables Highways England to apply charges where works are unreasonably prolonged (i.e. take longer in duration than agreed) and to prosecute utility companies for offences (including failure to comply with directions given).

Roads: Shrewsbury

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to fund the construction of the North West Relief Road around Shrewsbury.

Jesse Norman: The Government is not yet in a position to make a decision on providing funding for this scheme but hopes to do so in the coming months.

Railways: Franchises

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on issuing letters of comfort to train operating companies in relation to railway franchises; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department manages rail franchise agreements in line with Managing Public Money guidance.

Bus Services: Concessions

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to extend free bus travel to people in receipt of (a) employment and support allowance, (b) universal credit and (c) jobseeker's allowance.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Concessionary travel legislation gives local authorities the flexibility to offer discretionary local travel concessions, such as free travel to jobseekers.The Jobcentre Plus offers a range of transport support for people seeking employment, including access to a Flexible Support Fund and a discount Travel Card. It is also encouraging to see operator-led initiatives, such as Stagecoach’s ‘Back on Board’ scheme, which offers jobseekers half price single and return tickets.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2018 to Question 174717 on Parking: Pedestrian Areas, what steps his Department is taking as part of that review.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport is in the process of gathering evidence on the problems posed by vehicles parking on pavements, the effectiveness of current regulation, and the case for change. Department for Transport officials have held meetings with a range of stakeholders, including accessibility campaigners, local authority managers, and the motoring associations. This evidence gathering should be complete by the end of the year.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fireworks: Packaging

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals after the UK has left the EU on graphic warnings on firework packaging on the health dangers from the misuse of pyrotechnics.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government promotes the safe and responsible use of fireworks by consumers and there is strict legislation in place which regulates their supply and use. The Government is currently working with a range of stakeholders to raise consumer awareness on firework safety. Under current UK legislation, there are clear requirements on manufacturers to categorise and label fireworks according to their explosive content, safety distances, noise level, or similar. The label must include instructions on safety distances and means of ignition and safety messages.

Fracking: Greater London

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has received applications to undertake fracking in (a) Ealing, Southall constituency, (b) Ealing local authority area and (c) Greater London.

Claire Perry: Before an operator can apply for planning permission from a local authority for any proposed oil or gas development, they need to apply for a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) from the Oil and Gas Authority. There are no current PEDLs within the Greater London area. In addition, under Section 50 of the Infrastructure Act 2015, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy must grant Hydraulic Fracturing Consent (HFC) before hydraulic fracturing can take place in the UK. The Department has not received any HFC applications relating to shale gas exploration in a) Ealing Southall constituency, b) Ealing local authority area or c) Greater London. The British Geological Survey has identified the main areas of shale prosperity in the UK, none of which lie underneath the Greater London area.

Employment: Pregnancy

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made on consolidating guidance on legislation to protect people who are pregnant or on maternity leave as recommended by the Taylor review of modern working practices.

Kelly Tolhurst: Last year, Acas published new comprehensive guidance on pregnancy and maternity discrimination and workplace rights and obligations. This summer we have reviewed the GOV.UK guidance material on the protections for people who are pregnant or on maternity leave and we are now updating and improving signposting.

Low Pay Commission: Public Consultation

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Low Pay Commission will publish the response to its consultation on (a) the effect of a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours in a contract and (b) alternative means for tackling one sided flexibility.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Low Pay Commission’s consultation, on the effect of a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours in a contract and alternative means for tackling one-sided flexibility, launched in March. The Low Pay Commission will publish their report, containing the findings from this consultation, in due course.

Industrial Relations

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to further promote better employee engagement and workforce relations in response to the Taylor review of modern working practices.

Kelly Tolhurst: In February 2018, the Government consulted on workforce and employee engagement as part of preparing its response to the Taylor review of modern working practices. We are grateful to the stakeholders who have taken time to comment. We are considering those comments and will be publishing our response in due course.

Employment: Standards

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government response entitled Good work: a response to the Taylor Review of modern working practices, published on 7 February 2018, when the first assessment of the quality of work in the UK is planned to be published.

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government response entitled Good work: a response to the Taylor Review of modern working practices, published on 7 February 2018, what steps he is taking to promote quality work through sector deals.

Kelly Tolhurst: Developing better jobs for everyone in the British economy is at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. We are proud to be the first Government to have taken responsibility for both quality and quantity of work, and are working to promote good work across the UK. We will be setting out our next steps for measuring and improving the quality of work in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Competition and Markets Authority,, (iii) HM Land Registry, (iv) OFGEM, (v) Companies House and (vi) the Insolvency Service, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Richard Harrington: The attached table shows the quantity of electricity and natural gas used by the named organisations for the last three complete financial years for which figures are available. 



PQ 18847: Energy use by named organisations
(PDF Document, 97.75 KB)

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what was the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Competition and Markets Authority, (iii) HM Land Registry, (iv) OFGEM, (v) Companies House and (vi) the Insolvency Service in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Richard Harrington: The attached table shows the cost of electricity and natural gas for the named organisations for the last three complete financial years for which figures are available. 



PQ 188848: Cost table for named organisations
(PDF Document, 96.96 KB)

Maternity Leave

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion new mothers in England have taken their full maternity leave entitlement in each of the last three years.

Kelly Tolhurst: The most recent official data on average length of family-related leave taken by parents is from the Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey in 2009, which collected data from parents of children born in 2008 across Great Britain. This shows that in 2008, 23% of employed mothers took their full statutory entitlement of 52 weeks of maternity leave or more (e.g. by taking annual leave in addition to Statutory Maternity Leave). According to the Labour Force Survey, in 2008 there were 350,000 employed mothers with a child under one. The full Maternity and Paternity Rights Survey 2009/10 Research Report can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214367/rrep777.pdf . Information on the length of maternity leave is available in Tables 2.11 and 2.12. We are currently commissioning a new survey which will provide updated information on family related leave and pay entitlements including Maternity Leave. Subject to the progress of data collection, we anticipate publishing findings in Summer 2019.

EU Competitiveness Council

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what issues the UK Government plans to raise at the forthcoming meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council on 29 November 2018.

Kelly Tolhurst: The agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry day) taking place on 29 November 2018 was agreed on 9 November by EU Ambassadors. The main items will be legislative discussions on platform-to-business relations, the Single Market Programme and the general safety of vehicles and debates on industrial policy and the future of the single market. A Written Ministerial Statement will be made shortly providing further details.

Multinational Companies: Tax Avoidance

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government would support another country putting public country by country reporting on the agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 November 2018.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the UK Government has to raise the issue of public country by country reporting at the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 29 November 2018.

Kelly Tolhurst: The UK has led international action to enhance tax transparency. This has included initiating the international work on country by country reporting during its G8 Presidency in 2013, and being the first country to commit to implement the OECD model for country by country reporting with legislation in the 2015 Finance Act. The issue of public country by country reporting is not on the agenda for the EU Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry day) taking place on 29 November 2018, as agreed by EU Ambassadors. The UK has no plans to raise the issue at this meeting, although we would have no objection to another Member State raising it.  The Government believes a multilateral approach to public country by country reporting would help ensure effective implementation.

Oil: Prices

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost of a barrel of crude oil over the next 12 months.

Claire Perry: Future oil prices are inherently uncertain. In their October 2018 Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR assumed oil prices would average 80.2 US dollars per barrel in 2019 based on forward market prices, although oil prices have subsequently fallen in recent weeks. See https://obr.uk/download/october-2018-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-supplementary-economy-tables/ (Table 1.9).

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many non-disclosure agreements his Department has made in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Richard Harrington: The Department does not hold this information centrally and is not aware of any such agreements having been signed with employees in relation to preparations for the UK leaving the EU..

Government: Industry

Dame Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve collaborative working between Government and industry.

Richard Harrington: Our Industrial Strategy sets out how we are building strong partnerships with businesses, academia, local government and devolved administrations. Our Sector Deals, Grand Challenges and Local Industrial Strategies demonstrate how we are working collaboratively with industry to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business. We have published six sector deals so far on Life Sciences, Automotive, Creative Industries, Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear and Construction. The process allows for robust engagement and negotiation between industry and government leadership to ensure that we are working together effectively to tackle barriers to productivity. We have three more deals in negotiation with the Aerospace, Rail and Food and Drink sectors.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the volume of power generated from new domestic solar generators after the closure of the feed-in tariff scheme in (a)  2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021.

Claire Perry: The Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme currently remains open. As part of the consultation on our proposal to close the FIT export tariff from 1 April 2019, we published an Impact Assessment which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/feed-in-tariffs-scheme. The Government will set out its response to the consultation, including an updated Impact Assessment, in due course.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on the future of the feed-in tariff scheme of the UK’s obligations under article 21 of the EU Renewable Energy Directive II.

Claire Perry: The Government is currently considering responses to the recent Call for Evidence on small-scale low-carbon generation, and the Consultation proposing to close the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 1.11 of his Department's feed-in-tariff consultation, what the final date by which community organisations can apply for pre-registration arrangements is; and what (a) generation and (b) export tariff those organisations will be eligible for.

Claire Perry: The Government recently consulted on a proposal to close the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme from 1 April 2019. Under the consultation proposals, MCS scale community installations would have until 31 March 2019 to apply for pre-registration and would get the standard 12 month validity period in which to commission and apply to their FIT licensee for accreditation. They would receive the generation tariff available in the last tariff period before closure (i.e. the tariff available on 1 January 2019). They would receive an export tariff at the current rate available on the date that they apply to their FIT licensee. The Government will set out its response to the consultation, including confirmed closure arrangements for community schemes, in due course.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 1.11 of his Department's feed-in-tariff consultation, whether community organisations applying for pre-registration before March 2019 will be eligible for the same level of funding as organisations completing installation before March 2019.

Claire Perry: The Government recently consulted on a proposal to close the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme from 1 April 2019. For MCS scale community installations that apply for pre-registration on or before 31 March 2019, we proposed that the tariff rate they would receive would be determined by the date and time the installation’s MCS certificate was issued in accordance with the existing scheme rules. For those installations that commission and apply to their FIT licensee after 31 March 2019, within their 12 month validity period, we proposed that the tariff rate would be that available in the last tariff period before closure (i.e. the tariff available on 1 January 2019). In all situations there would need to be sufficient space in the appropriate quarterly deployment cap in or prior to the tariff period in 2019 to accommodate the installation’s capacity. The Government will set out its response to the consultation, including confirmed closure arrangements for community schemes, in due course.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his timetable is for (a) the publication of the final regulations and (b) his response to the consultation on the withdrawal of the Feed In Tariff scheme.

Claire Perry: The Government will set out its response to the recent consultation proposing to close the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme in due course.

Heathrow Airport: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the expansion of Heathrow Airport on the ability of the UK to meet the net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Claire Perry: Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on 1.5 degrees, published in October, we commissioned advice from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), on its long-term emissions reduction targets, including on the setting of a net zero target. This commission asks for evidence from the CCC on how reductions might be delivered in key sectors of the economy and the expected costs and benefits of different scenarios. The Committee will also publish a report on aviation in Spring 2019. As set out in the Committee’s recent progress report, this will include consideration of the potential to reduce aviation emissions over the period to 2050 and beyond. The Government will consider carefully the Committee’s advice on both these issues when it is received. Subject to this review, the Government will consider whether it is appropriate to review the Airports National Policy Statement, in accordance with Section 6 of the Planning Act 2008.

Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has plans to introduce legislation proposals to set the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Claire Perry: Following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on the impacts of climate change of 1.5 degrees on 8 October, we commissioned our independent experts, the Committee on Climate Change, to provide their advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets, including on setting a net zero target. The letter requesting the CCC’s advice is available here. We will consider the Committee’s evidence-based advice carefully when it is received in Spring 2019. We believe that is the right way to approach such an important question.

Sharing Economy: Conditions of Employment

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the article on the Guardian website on 8 November 2018 entitled Gig economy workers' rights to be given boost in overhaul, what legislative proposals he plans to bring forward on gig economy workers' rights; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the article on the Guardian website on 8 November 2018 entitled Gig economy workers' rights to be given boost in overhaul, if he will place in the Library copies of all documents provided to the media by the Government in relation to this article.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government does not respond to leaks.

Post Offices

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) Crown post office and hosted Crown post office, (b) franchise post office, (c) Main post office, (d) post office Locals, (e) traditional sub-post office and (f) other types of post office branches there were on 1 November 2018 by (i) region and (ii) Local Enterprise Partnership area in England.

Kelly Tolhurst: The overall number of post offices across the UK remains at its most stable in decades with over 11,500 branches thanks to significant Government investment of over £2 billion since 2010. The Post Office branch network overall is reported annually in the Post Office Annual Network Report which is available at http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office. The most recent information (June 2018) on the Post Office network by Government Office Region is below. Apart from the Directly Managed branches the rest of the network is operated on a franchise/agency basis and the groupings below reflect the branch models.  Government Office RegionDirectly Managed BranchHosted Directly Managed BranchMainLocalTraditionalOutreachTotalEast Midlands71257277204143889East of England1452803553111501115London61433418781 667NI6 12119911249487North East6 1481678877486North West2544463421841141115Scotland1622805063612341399South East26113595173251461384South West2042893603412571271Wales102167305241190915West Midlands7 34627118698908Yorkshire and the Humber203326293200114956Total21836335337792634157211592

Post Offices: Bank Services

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many post offices offer Post Office Current Accounts in branch by (a) region and (b) Local Enterprise Partnership area in England.

Kelly Tolhurst: Post Office Current Accounts can be serviced across the UK-wide network of over 11,500 Post Office branches, for deposits, withdrawals and balance enquiries. Services can also be accessed over the phone, online and via the Post Office Money Current Account app. The most recent information available (June 2018) on the Post Office network is available by Government Office Region online: http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/sites/default/files/Network%20Report%202018%20FINAL.pdf

Post Offices: Bank Services

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what financial services the Post Office provides at (a) Crown post office and hosted Crown post office, (b) franchise post office, (c) Main post office, (d) post office Locals, (e) traditional sub-post office and (f) other types of post office branches.

Kelly Tolhurst: Financial services such as Everyday Banking, Bill Payment and Postal Orders are available in over 11,500 Post Offices around the UK. Additional Post Office Money services are available on-line, over the phone, and in selected Post Office branches.

Fireworks: Regulation

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to amend the regulations on the sale or use of fireworks to (a) further restrict the sale of fireworks and (b) restrict the use of fireworks to certain specified occasions.

Kelly Tolhurst: Government takes firework safety very seriously and the Office for Product Safety and Standards is working with industry, retailers, charities and others, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Promoting the safe and responsible use of fireworks, whilst taking robust action against those that break the rules, is the best way to reduce risk. We have reached more than a million people through social media, GP surgeries and post offices in our recent campaign on firework safety. Strict legislation is in place to regulate the supply and use of fireworks, including restricting their availability to the public via a licensing scheme for retailers which only allows for their sale without a license during the traditional firework periods of November 5th, New Year’s Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year. We have no plans to amend legislation to further restrict their sale or use.

Public Sector: Disclosure of Information

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of disability discrimination related to (a) mental health and (b) other disabilities against whistleblowers in the public sector.

Kelly Tolhurst: Employment Tribunal Statistics show that the number of claims related to Public Interest Disclosures brought to an Employment Tribunal hearing have increased from 1,489 in 2007/08 to 2,191 in 2017/18. Figures are not available to indicate how many of these claims related to public sector employers, nor to mental health or other disabilities.

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department takes to prevent the sale of faulty and substandard carbon monoxide alarms that do not meet the EN 50291-1 safety standard; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Carbon monoxide alarms are regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which require that products must be safe before they can be placed on the market. Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to take action to remove or recall products which do not comply with the regulations and the Office for Product Safety and Standards will work with them to monitor the safety of these products. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 traders must ensure that goods are as described and of a satisfactory quality and be fit for a particular purpose if that purpose was made known to the consumer.

WH Smith: Post Offices

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on (a) employment patterns and (b) levels of customer service of the planned franchising of 74 Crown post offices to WHSmith.

Kelly Tolhurst: While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it allows the company the commercial freedom to deliver this strategy as an independent business. Staff employment patterns and customer service are both operational matters of commercial judgement for Post Office management team. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Group Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the Rt hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

Offshore Industry: Carbon Emissions

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the potential effect on the UK's (a) total carbon emissions and (b) ability to filful its commitments as a signatory to the Paris agreement on climate change of the carbon emissions generated by the consumption of oil and gas produced as a result of the UK’s 31st offshore licensing round.

Claire Perry: The independent oil and gas regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), has a principal statutory objective to maximise the economic recovery of petroleum from the UK Continental Shelf. This informs their licensing decisions. In the UK, we have been producing oil and gas from offshore fields for more than 50 years and the 31st offshore licensing round could offer further opportunities to contribute to the UK’s diverse energy mix as we transition to a low carbon economy. Oil and gas will continue to play an important role as part of the energy mix for decades to come. Greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of the UK’s economy are taken into account when assessing our performance against the carbon budgets. The UK remains committed to the Paris Agreement and we are leading the world in our response to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on global warming of 1.5°C– commissioning the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) for their advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emissions reduction targets, just one week after its publication. As part of this, we have requested that they provide evidence on how reductions in line with the CCC’s recommendations might be delivered in key sectors of the economy and we will consider their advice carefully when it is received.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much additional public funding is required to reach the Government's target of spending 2.4 per cent of GDP on R&D across the economy by 2027.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish a long-term budget that estimates the amount of investment from the public purse in R&D to reach 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is working with UK Research and Innovation and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and industry will work together to reach the 2.4% target by 2027. The roadmap, including an assessment of the measures required to put us on a trajectory to the 2.4% target, will be published in 2019.

Chemicals: Energy

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of energy costs on the financial sustainability of the UK chemical industry.

Richard Harrington: Ensuring that the UK is competitive on the energy costs faced by manufacturing industry is an important element of our Industrial Strategy. The Department has made no specific assessments of the effect of energy costs on the sustainability of the UK chemical sector. We know the chemistry sector recognises the value of the work we have undertaken in partnership to reduce energy costs. The recently-launched Chemistry Council Strategy the sector has noted that: “Government and industry have worked together to help deliver improved energy costs for energy intensive industries (EII). This was delivered through a £7 billion EII compensation package (announced in the Budget 2013), its conversion to an exemption (announced in the Autumn Statement 2015) and subsequently implemented from 2017.”

Chemicals: Energy

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support the UK chemical industry with energy costs.

Richard Harrington: In the Chemistry Council Strategy the sector has welcomed the UK Clean Growth Strategy and its cost-effective approach to decarbonisation, including a joint Chemical Sector Roadmap Action Plan, with its focus on low carbon opportunities while ensuring affordable and internationally competitive energy. Since 2013 chemical sector businesses have received have received more than £160 million under the EU’s Emmisions Trading Scheme, Carbon Price Support, Renewables Obligation and Feed-In-Tariffs. The chemical industry will have the opportunity to benefit from the new Industrial Energy Transformation Fund announced in the Budget. This will help businesses, including those in the chemical sector, that use large amounts of energy to transition to using less. We anticipate that funding will be available for energy efficiency investments for a range of technologies relevant to the chemical industry, including more efficient compressors and pumps and transformative decarbonisation investments. Funding, backed by £315 million new money, will be available from 2020/2021, providing the Government time to consult on how the Fund should be implemented and providing businesses, including those in the chemical sector, with the time to prepare proposals.

Energy: Carbon Emissions

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that low-carbon energy is produced at the lowest possible cost.

Claire Perry: Through our Contracts for Difference scheme, which is our main mechanism for supporting new renewable electricity generation projects, contracts are awarded in a series of competitive auctions, with the lowest price bids being successful - which drives efficiency and cost reduction. The scheme has been a success, delivering substantial new investment and helping deliver significant reductions in the costs of some renewable technologies. In addition, the UK is likely to need significant new nuclear capacity in order to meet our carbon reduction commitments. We have always been clear that new nuclear must provide value for money. To that end, the Government’s Nuclear Sector Deal has set out a target for a 30 per cent reduction in the cost of new build projects by 2030. The Government is also considering direct investment in the Wylfa project alongside other parties and is reviewing the viability of a regulated asset base model for future projects.

Natural Gas

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to answers provided to questions 106 and 117 at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee Oral evidence session on gas storage on 31 October 2018, HC 1666, whether his Department is conducting a review of the UK's gas security.

Claire Perry: The Department constantly monitors the UK’s gas security of supply. The Department and Ofgem conduct an annual statutory security of supply report that was most recently submitted to Parliament on 6th November 2018 (Can be found here). In addition, in October 2015, the then Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change committed to a 5-year cycle of reviews of the UK’s gas security of supply. The most recent publication in this series was in October 2017 (Can be found here).

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Venezuela: Sanctions

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps with his international counterparts to impose sanctions on the leading figures in the Venezuelan Maduro regime.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK does not have its own domestic sanctions regime but does act with the international community to implement UN and EU sanctions.We agreed a tough EU sanctions regime on Venezuela in November 2017. Travel bans and assets freezes were imposed on seven government officials in February 2018 and a further 11 officials in July 2018.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department and (ii) Wilton Park in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The quantity and cost of electricity and gas to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK estate and Wilton Park since April 2015 is as follows: FCOWilton Park UsageCostUsageCostElectricitykWHGBPkWhGBP2015/1626,750,416£3,285,904277,496£17,8112016/1724,776,275£3,309,30415,660£14,2692017/1823,126,619£3,052,563247,222£13,997Gas 2015/16682,365£24,060276,274£11,1702016/17603,753£24,440308,927£12,8352017/18738,219£26,742313,945£11,378Wilton Park electricity usage during 2016/17 was not accurately monitored due to a faulty meter. The fault was finally resolved by British Gas in July 2017. Costs for the period have been confirmed and reconciled.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost was of  (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department and (ii) Wilton Park in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The quantity and cost of electricity and gas to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK estate and Wilton Park since April 2015 is as follows: FCOWilton Park UsageCostUsageCostElectricitykWHGBPkWhGBP2015/1626,750,416£3,285,904277,496£17,8112016/1724,776,275£3,309,30415,660£14,2692017/1823,126,619£3,052,563247,222£13,997Gas 2015/16682,365£24,060276,274£11,1702016/17603,753£24,440308,927£12,8352017/18738,219£26,742313,945£11,378Wilton Park electricity usage during 2016/17 was not accurately monitored due to a faulty meter. The fault was finally resolved by British Gas in July 2017. Costs for the period have been confirmed and reconciled

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Sir Alan Duncan: Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually details of their payment performance.The Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.

UNMIK

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the proposal by the US ambassador to the United Nations for the development of an exit strategy for the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

Sir Alan Duncan: The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) served an important post-conflict role. Like all international organisations, it should constantly review its priorities and resources to ensure that it remains fit for the current situation. Two decades after the establishment of UNMIK, the UN Security Council should now refocus UNMIK's efforts so that the means deployed by the UN are tailored fully to the situation on the ground.

UNMIK

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia on the (i) future of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and (ii) vote of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on 18 October 2018 to establish a national army for that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign Secretary has not raised the issue of the future of UNMIK nor the vote in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on establishing an army with counterparts in either Serbia or Kosovo.FCO officials are in regular discussion with the Government of Kosovo, including on the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF). The UK also conducts regular consultation with NATO Allies on the subject, given NATO's support to the KSF.

Kosovo: Armed Forces

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the vote of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on 18 October 2018 to establish a national army on efforts to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Sir Alan Duncan: We support Kosovo's sovereign right to have security forces or, if they so choose, armed forces, and we have encouraged the Government of Kosovo to make any changes to the existing Kosovo Security Forces in close consultation with NATO.We support the EU-facilitated Dialogue aimed at normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is in both sides' interest. We look to both parties to act in ways that support normalisation.

Ethiopia: Dams

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Egypt and (b) Ethiopia on the progress of talks between those Governments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.

Harriett Baldwin: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have had no recent discussions with their Egyptian and Ethiopian counterparts about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been following the continuing talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan aimed at reaching agreement at the political and technical levels – the last being between the Foreign Ministers of Ethiopia and Egypt in the margins of this week's African Union Summit.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has plans to table a new UN Security Council resolution on the cessation of hostilities in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: At the UN Security Council meeting on Friday 16 November, the UK announced that we would be bringing forward a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, steps to improve the humanitarian situation, and support for the work of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to recognise the contribution of UK citizens to the OSCE mission in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is a long standing supporter of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and its Special Monitoring Mission. We fully support our secondees to the Mission and provide them with a package of benefits and remuneration for their work. This is in addition to the allowances they receive directly from the OSCE. This demonstrates both our commitment to the Mission and our recognition of the work of our secondees. We continue to consider other ways to recognise our secondees’ service to this important Mission.

Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the average time spent in Ukraine was of UK representatives to the OSCE’s mission to that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: Secondees are placed on contracts for one year which can be renewed on agreement, as the mandate for the mission is renewed by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). While in Ukraine they work full time and are subject to OSCE staffing regulations. As the OSCE is an independent multilateral organisation, any UK secondees are working for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and are not formally representatives of the UK.

Ukraine: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens working for the OSCE’s mission to Ukraine are employed by (a) the Government, (b) a UK contractor and (c) the OSCE; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK currently provides 66 monitors to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), the second largest cohort of any participating state. This includes the recent appointment of a UK secondee to the senior position of Deputy Chief Monitor. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office funds these secondee postings through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). Since the OSCE is an independent multilateral organisation, we are unable to provide details of other UK citizens who may be contracted or employed by the organisation in Ukraine.

Poland: Sovereignty

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the Government was not represented by a Minister at the celebration of 100 years of independence for Poland on 11 November 2018.

Sir Alan Duncan: UK Ministers were not invited to the event in Warsaw on 11 November to celebrate 100 years of Poland regaining independence. Our Ambassador to Poland was invited and represented the UK Government. The then Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary marked the centenary at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw in June.

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made tho his Bangladeshi counterpart on the proposed forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees from that country.

Mark Field: On 14 November I released a public statement expressing deep concern at reports that returns of Rohingya refugees to Burma were imminent. I called on Bangladesh and Burma not to return any refugees until the conditions were in place for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns that uphold human rights. I am pleased that no repatriations began on 15 November, but I remain concerned that such repatriations might commence before appropriate conditions are in place. I agree with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. Neither is the access in Burma required for necessary independent monitoring by UN agencies in place.I contacted Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Ali on 15 November to welcome the fact that repatriations had not taken place and received his assurance that the Government of Bangladesh remained committed to the principle of voluntary returns with UNHCR monitoring.Previously, I spoke to Bangladesh Minister of State Shahriar Alam and Burmese Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin on 1 November and stressed the UK's assessment that conditions in Rakhine State were not currently suitable for refugee returns.

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to protect women Rohingya refugees that are repatriated from gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The UK is deeply concerned at Bangladesh and Burma's announcement that the repatriation of refugees will begin in mid-November. I have registered our concerns with ministers from both governments, and issued a statement expressing concerns on 14 November. The UK shares the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' assessment that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist. The UK supports the UN High Commissioner's call for his agency to be given unfettered access to northern Rakhine, which would enable it to monitor the safety, including from gender-based violence, of any refugees that do return.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Commonwealth counterparts on the current political and human rights situation in Cameroon after the October elections in that that country.

Harriett Baldwin: During the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London in April the then Foreign Secretary and I met Cameroonian counterparts, reminding them of the obligations placed upon Cameroon by the Commonwealth Charter. There have not been discussions with Commonwealth counterparts on the situation in Cameroon since Cameroon's elections in October.

Cameroon: Refugees

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department plan to visit Cameroon to discuss the Anglophone crisis in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is deeply concerned about the situation in Cameroon and the deteriorating security situation in the Anglophone regions of the country. I visited Cameroon in February 2018 when I met the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers and reinforced the importance of respecting human rights in a challenging security environment. In my recent statement following elections in Cameroon, I called for all parties to engage in a peaceful and structured process leading to constitutional reforms, as previously set out by the President, and to avoid violence. The UK will continue to work alongside the international community to encourage and support efforts to resolve the Anglophone crisis.

Cameroon: Peace Negotiations

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the African Union on renewing steps to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Cameroon.

Harriett Baldwin: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, visited Cameroon to get a better understanding of the situation in July. The UK welcomed this visit, and the preliminary report of the African Union Elections Observation Mission to the 7 October Cameroonian Presidential election, which issued on 9 October 2018. The UK delegation in Addis Ababa continues to engage with Ambassador Smail Chergui, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security on a range of issues, including Cameroon. The UK stands ready to support the African Union to make progress on addressing the crisis in Cameroon.

Jagtar Singh Johal

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the Indian Government on the continuing imprisonment of Jagtar Singh Johal.

Mark Field: ​We continue to press the Indian Government at official and Ministerial level to address concerns raised with them on behalf of Jagtar Singh Johal, including allegations of torture and mistreatment. Baroness Williams and I raised the case with the Minister of State for External Affairs, on 11 June and 7 May respectively, and most recently I raised Mr Johal’s case with the outgoing Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Y K Sinha, on 23 October 2018. Our consular staff in India continue to visit Mr Johal regularly.

Middle East: Religious Freedom

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will undertake a review of the Magna Carta Fund to assess the potential merits of expanding the teaching of religious tolerance in Middle Eastern countries.

Mark Field: ​The Magna Carta fund has recently extended its support for Hardwired, a project which promotes Freedom of Religion or Belief in curricula in the Middle East and North Africa. More broadly, 'Respect in Education' is a key part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's strategy to promote Freedom of Relgion or Belief. Projects within the Magna Carta Fund are routinely reviewed and assessed.

Libya: Conferences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the international conference on Libya, held in Palermo on 12-13 November 2018.

Alistair Burt: The Palermo Conference underlined wide international support for the next steps in implementing the UN Action Plan, as set out by SRSG Salamé in his 8 November briefing to the UN Security Council, including the convening of a National Conference in early 2019.We urge Libyans and the international community to seize this opportunity by engaging fully with the UN to promote a more political inclusive process, with a view to creating the conditions for national elections in the course of next year.

Islamic State

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to provide Parliament with the Government’s next quarterly update on the fight against Daesh.

Alistair Burt: The British Government updates the House regularly on the progress of the counter Daesh campaign in Iraq and Syria. We are currently working to fix a date for the next statement, which will be delivered as soon as feasibly possible.

Bangladesh: Elections

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the free and fair conduct of the general election due to take place in Bangladesh on 23 December 2018 of the recent announcement by that country’s Government that a neutral caretaker administration will not be formed in advance of that election.

Mark Field: The British Government has been consistently clear that we wish to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh. As a result, I have repeatedly encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. An amendment to Bangladesh's constitution in 2011 removes the requirement for a neutral caretaker administration during the election period but I continue to urge the government and opposition groups to continue discussing the conduct of the next election, and to allow the Election Commission to continue their essential work unimpeded.I raised my concerns regarding the election with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, on 1 November. The Foreign Secretary did the same with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September in New York at the UN General Assembly.

Bangladesh: Freedom of Expression

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the Digital Security Act passed by the Bangladeshi parliament in September 2018 on freedom of speech and expression in that country.

Mark Field: Civil Society in Bangladesh has detailed its growing concerns regarding the Digital Security Act, including the vagueness of its provisions and draconian sentences. The British High Commissioner in Bangladesh, along with EU partners, issued a statement on 27 September condemning the Act's negative impact on freedom of expression. The British High Commission has also raised these concerns with Bangladeshi Ministers.Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and we raised freedom of expression as a key concern at the last UN Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights. The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns regarding freedom of expression in Bangladesh when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 September during the UN General Assembly.

Companies: Ownership

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken since the passing of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 to ensure that British Overseas Territories introduce public registers of beneficial ownership.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government has assured the Overseas Territories of our commitment to working collaboratively with them on the introduction of public registers. Minister of State Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has already proposed the establishment of a UK- Overseas Territories technical working group to meet in early 2019 and will discuss more formally the implementation timetable and any initial requests for support at the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council next month.

Colombia: Politics and Government

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Colombia on protection for leaders of the FARC party since the attempted murder of Fancy Urrego (Erika Montero), a member of that party's leadership; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received reports alleging that police in Colombia have passed information to the FARC party warning of plans they have uncovered to kill members of their party leadership; if he will make representations to the Government in Colombia on the protection of those people; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: I discussed the killings of former members of the FARC, human rights defenders and social activists in Colombia with President Duque's advisor for international affairs and human rights on 17 October. I also condemn the attempted murder of FARC leader Erika Montero in Medellin on 4 November which seeks to undermine confidence in the peace process.The Colombian Government has taken welcome steps to train protection teams for FARC leaders, with recruits including former FARC combatants. The UK has raised the importance of providing security guarantees set out in the peace deal during discussions at the UN Security Council where the UK holds the pen for the peace process, and through CSSF funding we have strengthened the Colombian Government's capacity to do this. The UK has also called for improved protection measures for human rights defenders, including through recommendations that Colombia accepted during its Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights at the UN (Geneva) in May.The UK fully supports implementation of the 2016 historic peace agreement and continues to work closely with the new Colombian Government and international partners to ensure a safer more prosperous future for all Colombians.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by his Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what was the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by his Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Exiting the European Union occupies space in buildings belonging to other government departments. As a tenant of these buildings we do not capture this data.

EU Nationals: Children

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether children resident in the EU will be able to travel to the UK on identity cards in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr Robin Walker: We are considering a number of options in the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without a deal. The Home Office will set out further information in due course.As the Immigration Minister has said, we do not intend to require visas from EU citizens in a no deal scenario and we welcome the commitment from the EU Commission that subject to reciprocity they will do the same for UK nationals entering the EU.

Boats: British Nationals Abroad

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the rights of UK citizens to own boats in EU member states of the UK leaving the EU.

Chris Heaton-Harris: We understand the concerns of UK citizens in regards to their rights to own boats in EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence, we have agreed an implementation period that will last for 21 months beginning on exit day until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, UK nationals will be able to continue to own boats in the EU as they do now.Looking beyond the implementation period, the exact rights of UK citizens to own boats within an EU member state are a matter for future negotiation.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Where commercial contracts are required with suppliers, we always adhere to the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the provision for subcontractor payment. We publish contracts on the GOV.UK Contracts Finder website as part of our commitment to transparency and openness.

Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188901 on on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, how many non-disclosure agreements comprise a limited number.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Government departments make use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when structuring their engagements on preparations for leaving the EU, which is a crucial component of planning. It is for departments to determine the manner in which engagement with stakeholders takes place. Given the sensitive nature of some discussions, there may be limited circumstances in which departments have used NDAs to enable those conversations, thereby reaching more stakeholders than would otherwise be the case.As I said in my previous answer, this department has put a limited number of NDAs in place in the course of its work. The department’s use of NDAs is limited to standard contractual arrangements with those providing services to support our work and are necessary to protect commercial considerations.According to central records, the department has six current NDAs covering standard contractual arrangements with providers for activity including media monitoring, consultancy and research. Once awarded, we endeavour to adhere to cross-government guidance by publishing all contracts on the Contracts Finder within 90 days of award.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with industry representatives on the potential effect of the draft withdrawal agreement on the automotive industry.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The UK and the EU have worked intensively together on this Withdrawal Agreement to get the best deal for businesses and citizens. The text agreed reflects the positive evolution in both sides’ positions.The UK’s automotive industry is world leading, and global demand for UK vehicles is strong.My colleagues across Government have been in regular contact with the automotive industry to ensure the best possible outcomes for the sector, including in the Withdrawal Agreement.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Attorney General, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) the Attorney General's Office, (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service, (iii) the Government Legal Department and (iv) the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Robert Buckland: The quantity of electricity and natural gas used by the Attorney General’s Office and the Law Officers Departments (CPS, SFO, GLD and HMCPSI) is published in the CPS annual report (page 12) and can be found here.The figures are also shown below. (MWh) Megawatt hoursFY2015-162016-172017-18Electricity7,8445,4126,993Gas3,1153,5795,586 It is not possible to break these figures down any further without incurring disproportionate cost.

Attorney General: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Attorney General, what was the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) the Attorney General's Office, (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service, (iii) the Government Legal Department and (iv) the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Robert Buckland: The cost of electricity and natural gas used by the Attorney General’s Office and the Law Officers Departments (CPS, SFO, GLD and HMCPSI) is published in the CPS annual report (page 12) which can be found here.The costs are also shown below. Financial YearElectricity Spend (£)Gas Spend (£)2015-161,080,192113,3022016-171,008,26396,6232017-18968,82983,167 It is not possible to break these figures down any further without incurring disproportionate cost.

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the CPS charging, prosecution and conviction rates related to cases of rape since 2016-17.

Robert Buckland: There are a number of factors that have contributed to the recent falls in the volume of suspects charged, prosecuted and convicted of rape. The 2017-18 Violence Against Women and Girls report highlighted a 9.1% fall in referrals of rape flagged cases from the police to the CPS and work is being undertaken to understand the reasons behind this trend. Prosecutors are increasingly using the process of Early Investigative Advice to work with the police early to see what can be done to strengthen the prosecution when it is needed.Rape investigations are becoming increasingly complex due to a number of factors, including the growth in relevant digital communications evidence. To address the increasing complexity of cases the CPS have introduced new guidance to help police and prosecutors with reasonable lines of inquiry and communications evidence. There has also been a significant recruitment exercise, which was completed to ensure that RASSO units were equipped to meet the substantial increase in the volume of case referrals from the police. Between July 2015 and October 2018, the number of specialist prosecutors in RASSO units rose by 52% from 138 to 210, with overall staffing in these units increasing by more than a third.There has been no change of approach or guidance to CPS prosecutors in their commitment towards the prosecution of rape offences. The CPS has undertaken extensive work over the last decade to ensure that specialist prosecutors are fully equipped to deal with the particular complexities of rape and serious sexual offences and that the Code for Crown Prosecutors is properly applied. This includes understanding victim vulnerabilities and the impact of rape, as well as consent, myths and stereotypes, and the particular difficulties of cases involving vulnerable witnesses and young people. In 2018-19 the CPS plans to embark upon a project to better understand the evolving nature of sexual behaviours and encounters amongst young people as there are particular challenges in cases involving young adults.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Genito-urinary Medicine

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the announcement of £200 million funding for the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme, which providers will deliver that project; and how much funding each of those providers will receive.

Harriett Baldwin: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 October 2018.The correct answer should have been:

The Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme will be implemented by two consortia. Marie Stopes International have been awarded a contract for £77 million and International Planned Parenthood Federation have been awarded a contract for £132 million. £135 million.

Harriett Baldwin: The Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme will be implemented by two consortia. Marie Stopes International have been awarded a contract for £77 million and International Planned Parenthood Federation have been awarded a contract for £132 million. £135 million.

Land Mines

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department spent on the clearance of landmines and improvised explosive devices in the last 12 months.

Alistair Burt: Between October 2017 and October 2018 the Department for International Development spent £45,308,302 on programmes that reduce the humanitarian impact of landmines and improvised explosive devices (ERW). These programmes survey and clear land contaminated by landmines and ERW; provide mine risk education sessions to help communities understand the dangers of landmines and ERW; and support national mine action authorities to manage contamination effectively and efficiently.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the military offensive on Hodeidah on her Department's aid package to help (a) screen, (b) prevent and (c) tackle malnutrition in Yemen that was announced on 16 October 2018.

Alistair Burt: On World Food Day this year, the UK announced a package of £96.5 million to help UNICEF continue to tackle malnutrition in Yemen over the coming three years. This package will screen 2.2 million children under the age of five for malnutrition and provide urgent treatment for 70,000 of the most vulnerable children.The recent increase in military activity in and around Hodeidah has had a relatively limited impact on this programme so far, as the programme’s activities are implemented countrywide, not exclusively in Hodeidah. The continued flow of goods through and onwards from Hodeidah port, however, will be critical to ensure that humanitarian supplies can reach those in need.In Hodeidah city, stocks of supplies, including nutrition and fuel are still available thanks to the pre-positioning by UNICEF and its partners. Efforts are now focused on scaling up lifesaving activities within the humanitarian response.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment has her Department made on the effect on the humanitarian situation in Yemen of the military offensive in Hodeidah port.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is monitoring the resumption of hostilities in and around Hodeidah closely. As we have consistently made clear, the Coalition must ensure that any further military operations in and around Hodeidah are conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows.The impact of the violence around Hodeidah on commercial and humanitarian access is one of the main reasons behind the UN’s warning of the growing risk of food insecurity in Yemen. We are concerned by reports that access to the Red Sea mills has been restricted as a result of the latest fighting.UK aid partners continue to deliver life-saving support on the ground as part of our £170 million response in Yemen this year, including cash transfers to 21,000 people displaced from Hodeidah, as well as access to 75,000 litres of clean water a day.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to increase the level of (a) food, (b) medicine and (c) fuel imports to Hodeidah port.

Alistair Burt: The UK government continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is in regular contact with the Coalition about the need to ensure that any further military operations do not disrupt commercial and humanitarian flows both through the port and onwards across the country. To date, Red Sea ports remain operational and continue to import most of the food and fuel on which Yemenis rely.We have consistently made it clear, the Houthis must facilitate access throughout areas they control which is where most of the population live.As a part of our effort to secure vital access for food, fuel, and medicine into and throughout Yemen, the UK is also providing £1.3 million to the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism to give the Saudi-led Coalition confidence that weapons are not coming in to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on large commercial ships.

Nigeria: Refugees

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps his Department is taking to support the humanitarian needs and safe return of the estimated 30,000 Anglophone refugees who have fled into Nigeria during the recent violence in Cameroon.

Harriett Baldwin: This year DFID Nigeria has provided £20 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross who provide life-saving assistance to people affected by conflicts across Nigeria, including refugees from Cameroon, as well as those affected by the conflict in the north east and by inter-communal violence. Support to refugees from Cameroon includes the provision of essential household items such as clothes, hygiene products, cooking utensils and mosquito nets. DFID have a humanitarian adviser based in Cameroon working with partners on humanitarian issues in the country and are funding a protection adviser in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs working across the region on the Anglophone Crisis.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian needs of the civilians trapped in Hodeidah, Yemen; and what steps she is taking to help fulfil those needs.

Alistair Burt: The UK continues to raise concerns with the Saudi led-Coalition about the potential impact of any assault on the port and city of Hodeidah and is monitoring the resumption of hostilities in and around Hodeidah closely. The impact of the violence around Hodeidah on commercial and humanitarian access is one of the main reasons behind the UN’s warning of the growing risk of further food insecurity in Yemen.The UK is supporting the World Food Programme (WFP) with £35 million to respond to urgent food needs in Yemen this year. This funding will provide enough cash transfers and food vouchers to meet the immediate food needs of 4 million Yemenis. In addition, UK funding this year has helped WFP pre-position enough supplies to feed more than a million families for a month, as well as over a million litres of fuel to support hospitals and clean water facilities in Hodeidah governorate.UK aid partners continue to deliver life-saving support on the ground as part of our £170 million response in Yemen this year, including cash transfers to 21,000 people displaced from Hodeidah, as well as 75,000 litres of clean water a day. Efforts are now focused on scaling up lifesaving activities within the humanitarian response.

Venezuela: Refugees

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answers of 12 November 2018 to Questions 188711 and 188712 on Venezuela, how much money from the public purse has been spent on Venezuelan related aid in the last year.

Alistair Burt: Despite efforts by the UK to urge the Venezuelan Government to accept humanitarian aid, they continue to deny the existence of a humanitarian crisis.DFID is supporting the relief effort within the region through partners such as United Nations agencies, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Commission and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).The European Commission announced a €35m aid package this year of which the UK’s share is approximately 15%. In addition, the UK is a longstanding supporter of the CERF which allocated $26m to the region. The UK is the largest donor to the fund since inception and in 2017 represented 20% of the fund’s total contributions. This year the UK has contributed £55m to the CERF which will support responses to humanitarian needs across the globe, including in response to the Venezuelan crisis. DFID is also ICRC’s second largest donor, providing approximately £63m of core funding per year for ICRC to direct towards priority operations across the globe as they deem appropriate.

Developing Countries: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has allocated to programmes to increase access to education by women in each year since 2010.

Harriett Baldwin: Figures for DFID Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) spend on education with a significant or principal focus on gender per year since 2010 are provided in the table below. Figures for 2017 will be published at the end of November 2018.DFID Education Bilateral ODA that has a significant focus on Gender Equality by year (figures given in thousands) Year2010201120122013201420152016Significant£164,198£269,394£274,032£461,825£458,385£ 313,465£579,048Principal£79,233£73,577£110,881£109,422£117,990£102,493£90,191 Total spend:£243,431£342,971£384,912£571,247£576,375£415,958£669,239Source: OECD DAC ODA Statistics. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Development Assistance Committee (DAC) gender equality policy marker has been used in this answer. The marker is a statistical indicator that is assigned to a project depending on the extent to which gender equality is a significant or main aim of the project. A significant marking means gender equality is an important and deliberate objective, but not the principal reason for undertaking the project; and a principal marking means gender equality is the main objective of the project.

Migration

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what contribution the Government plans to make to the Global Compact for Migration.

Alistair Burt: The UK Government is supportive of the UN’s Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, as a step forward in international co-operation to tackle irregular migration and as a framework to help us deliver our commitments under the sustainable development goals.We believe that the final document sets out a better international framework for action and co-operation on migration, whilst importantly respecting a State’s sovereign right to determine its own migration policy. The Compact also contains important commitments and actions to help us tackle human trafficking and people smuggling.Moreover, our aim is to use the Compact to further our Migration priorities within multilateral fora. This includes: reducing modern slavery; upholding migrant’s human rights; and addressing irregular migration through improved border management and safer and more productive legal migration.We remain committed to working closely with European and Global partners to build on the momentum we have gathered thus far to ensure effective implementation of the Compact.We look forward to the formal launch of the Compact in Marrakech this December.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Water

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Millennium Development Goal targets for clean water in sub-Saharan Africa will be met by 2020.

Harriett Baldwin: The Millennium Development Goal targets for clean water in sub-Saharan Africa were not met by the 2015 deadline. Between 2015 and 2018, DFID supported 17.5 million people in Africa to access clean water and/or better sanitation. For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, over 2.7 million people gained access to clean water with DFID’s support between 2015 and 2018. In Ethiopia, DFID supported 1.9 million people to access clean water and/or better sanitation.

Foreign Aid

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information she holds on the proportion of gross national income that other G8 member states allocate to official development assistance.

Alistair Burt: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) publish statistics on official development assistance (ODA) and ODA as a proportion of gross national income from DAC donor countries. The latest preliminary data for 2017 can be accessed with this link: http://www.oecd.org/development/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-data/ODA-2017-detailed-summary.pdf.

Palestinians: Children

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of levels of (a) stunting and (b) malnutrition in (i) Palestinian children in Gaza and (ii) Bedouin children in Area C of the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: The UK remains committed to alleviating the suffering of children globally, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In Gaza, where an estimated 40,000 children suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, we recently provided a further £2 million for UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which will help to address some of the underlying causes of malnutrition by helping to improve the quality of water available to the entire population of Gaza. To help address needs in Area C, the UK has allocated £1.1 million to support essential infrastructure for vulnerable Palestinians. We are supporting 4 communities comprising of nearly 500 Palestinian families living in Area C to remain on their land through improved infrastructure and access to community services, including education and health.

Department for Education

Buildings: Insulation

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 164527 on Buildings: Insulation, what estimate the Government has made of the number of planned (a) school, (b) hospital and (c) care home buildings where (i) planning permission has been granted or (ii) work has commenced on site and which include the use of combustible cladding or insulation.

Nick Gibb: The Government does not collect information or publish statistics on the number of schools, hospitals or care home buildings with planning permission, or which has started on site, broken down by external wall type.Schools are, in general, safe environments in this regard as they are typically occupied during the daytime and have multiple exit routes. In addition, all schools must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including having an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment and conducting regular fire drills. The Department for Education is responsible for this area.Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government has taken action to ensure that the safety issues that caused it will not happen again. This has included a survey to identify high-rise buildings over 18 metres tall, with Aluminium Composite Material cladding, in England. The latest available information on the cladding status of these building is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data-release-end-october-2018.In addition, the Government established a Building Safety Programme that included an independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety. Following the publication of the review the Government announced in June 2018 that it intended to ban the use of combustible materials on external walls of high-rise buildings, subject to consultation.Following consultation, the Government announced on 1 October 2018 that it will take forward this ban on all high-rise residential buildings, as well as hospitals, residential care premises, residential schools and student accommodation above 18 metres. This ban will be delivered through changes to Building Regulations and will limit materials available to products achieving a European classification of Class A1 or A2. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for this policy area.NHS trusts are locally responsible for their fire safety, and take it very seriously. Fire safety guidance specific to the NHS Firecode, is provided to support them in doing this. As with schools, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, NHS organisations must, as far as is reasonably practical, make sure that everyone on the premises, or nearby, can escape safely if there is a fire. They will therefore consider the ban on combustible cladding as part of the regular fire risk assessments they carry out on their existing estate. The Department for Health and Social Care is responsible for this area.

Pre-school Education: Finance

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received from bodies in the education sector on the potential effect of the ending of supplementary funding in 2019-20 on the number of maintained nursery schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) make a valuable contribution to improving the lives of some of our most disadvantaged children. In the last three months, there have been nine representations led by MNS, one by an education trade union and two by education charities.Representations made include the case for future funding and the sharing of research findings.

Free School Meals: Bury North

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of (a) children and (b) children eligible for free schools meals reached a Good Level of Development at age five in Bury North in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The requested data is shown in the attached table. Results for academic year 2017/18 are due to be published on Thursday 29 November.



189795_Bury_North_FSM_pupils_good_level_developmen
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.51 KB)

Education: Exports

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress his Department has made on its 2015 target of increasing the value of educational exports to £30 billion by 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to set a growth target for international student numbers studying at UK universities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking increase the number of Indian students studying at UK universities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The target of increasing the value of education exports to £30 billion by 2020 was set in 2015 under the coalition government. The target is rightly ambitious and the department remains committed to working with the rest of government and the sector to drive progress towards it.The latest statistics, which were published by the department earlier this year, estimated that the total value of UK education exports and transnational education activity was £19.3 billion in 2015, marking an increase of 22% since 2010.Growing education exports is an important priority, and the government supports this through the work of the Department for International Trade (DIT)’s team dedicated to education exports. In addition, DIT’s Education Sector Advisory Group, which was chaired by my hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley and Holderness, and which I attended, supports the international aspirations and activity of the UK education sector and explores the ways in which growth can be increased.The department’s international team supports this work and leads on a number of formal bilateral agreements, underpinned by memorandums of understanding and ministerial dialogues and visits. The team is also a key partner in a number of regular high-level international events, such as the Education World Forum, which is held annually in the UK.Accounting for approximately 60% of all education exports, international students are of course an important part of this work.The UK continues to be very successful in attracting international students. There is no cap on the number who can study here and we are second only to the USA in terms of our market share. Numbers remain at record high levels, with over 170,000 non-EU entrants to UK higher education institutions for the seventh year running.India is an important partner in education, and the UK’s fourth largest source country for international students. The government actively promotes study in the UK through the GREAT Campaign and through the British Council, which promotes the UK in over 100 countries, including India. I am pleased to say that we have seen recent increases in student numbers from India and, since 2011, student visas granted to Indian nationals have increased by 28%.To help inform decisions on the future migration system, the government commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to provide an objective assessment of the impact of EU and non-EU international students at all levels of education. The MAC has now published its report, and the government is carefully considering its conclusions and recommendations. We intend to publish a white paper on the UK’s future immigration system later this year.

Department of Education: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Nick Gibb: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish their payment performance each year.Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.

Private Education: Children in Care

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the number of looked after children in private education in each of the last 10 years to date.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of looked after children in independent schools is available from 2011 to 2018.Table: Number of looked after children in independent schools (including independent special schools) in England, 2011 to 2018.YearNumber of pupils2018351220173209201633892015346820142903201342242012290720113019Source: School Level Annual School Census, 2011 to 2018

Healthy Pupils Capital Fund

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is monitoring how the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund is being spent by schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: The healthy pupils capital fund (HPCF) is a one year fund of £100 million in 2018-19.Existing mechanisms for school condition funding have been used to allocate and monitor the HPCF. Local authorities and large multi-academy trusts have received an allocation from the HPCF (£62 million). The funding can only be used for capital projects and responsible bodies are required to report on how they have spent their HPCF in the same way they report on, and alongside, their school condition allocation.Single and small academy trusts and sixth-form colleges were able to bid for a share of £38 million of the HPCF through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2018 to 2019. All responsible bodies are required to sign up to terms and conditions which state that funding can only be spent on what was applied for before the first payment is released. Once underway, all CIF projects are required to submit regular monitoring reports to the Department for Education. At the end of the project, a final completion certificate is required before the final payment is released.

Schools: Food

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to implement the healthy rating scheme for schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: Since the publication of the childhood obesity plan, we have met with a range of stakeholders to discuss the best way to deliver the healthy schools rating scheme. This is a complex and wide-ranging project, and we are taking the time necessary to ensure we deliver a successful resource. We are currently testing delivery models as we continue to explore the most effective way to deliver the scheme, building on successful resources that are already available to schools. We will come forward with proposals shortly.

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many contested adoptions have taken place in each of the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information requested is not held centrally. The department does not collect data on specific adoption circumstances.Information on those children placed for adoption where consent is dispensed by the court is published annually in Table D1 of the statistical release, ‘Children looked after in England including adoption: 2016 to 2017’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2016-to-2017. Figures for the year ending 31 March 2018 will be published on 15 November 2018. These are circumstances where the court can dispense without the consent of a parent, to the placement and adoption of their child if the welfare of the child requires it. This may be a decision in some situations that is not in accordance with the parents’ wishes. The welfare of a child is paramount and local authorities have a statutory duty to intervene to undertake child protection enquiries and to take action to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. However, decisions on adoption are ultimately taken by an independent judge based on the evidence presented.

Literacy and Special Educational Needs

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what specific remit the 32 English Hubs will have to support learners identified with (a) literacy difficulties and (b) SEND.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of English Hub schools having at least one member of staff who has received specialist dyslexia training.

Nick Gibb: The 32 English Hubs will deploy five practising teachers to deliver support to local schools. These teachers will not be required to hold specific qualifications in special educational needs, but will be trained to support all children to learn to read. The Department has invested heavily in resources and training for dyslexia and specific learning difficulties support. This has included increasing training for teachers and school leaders and providing access to literacy specialists to the wide range of support available to all teachers. Literacy specialists will also have access to the wide range of support available to all teachers. The new standards for qualified teacher status include a continued focus on meeting the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The Whole School SEND consortium, funded by the Department, are delivering training and resources for schools to enable schools to review their SEND provision in order to identify address where provision can be improved, including identifying and supporting pupils with SEND more effectively.

Dyslexia

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what minimum standard of dyslexia support his Department requires local authorities to provide.

Nadhim Zahawi: Local authorities, working with schools and other partners, are required by the Children and Families Act (2014) to set out a local offer of the support normally available to children and families affected by a disability and special educational needs (SEN).Schools are also required under the act and the accompanying Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice to identify and address the SEN of the pupils or students they support. We expect schools to be monitoring closely the progress of all pupils. The first response when any child is falling behind is good quality teaching. When this does not produce expected progress, the school should consider whether the child has a learning difficulty. The school should assess the child, plan an intervention if a learning difficulty is identified, implement the intervention and then review the outcome and progressively repeat this cycle until the child’s learning difficulty is properly supported. This is called SEN support and the cyclical process is referred to as a ‘graduated approach’ to meeting children’s needs. Where children and young people have needs that can’t be met through this process, they could get support through an Education, Health and Care plan.We have in place training and specific resources designed to provide teachers with the necessary skills to identify and support children with dyslexia.

Literacy: Teaching Methods

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of regional differences in the results of the phonics screening check; and what steps he is taking to reduce such disparities.

Nick Gibb: The percentage of Year 1 pupils meeting the required standard in phonic decoding since 2011/12[1] can be found in the below table:[2]  Region2012201320142015201620172018England (state-funded schools)58697477818182North East60707577828283North West58697476808082Yorkshire and The Humber57677274787980East Midlands58687275798081West Midlands60707578818182East55677376808182London60727780838485Inner London60737881848485Outer London61727779838485South East56687377818283South West58707477808182  The Department also publishes the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard of phonic decoding by the end of Year 2.2,[3] The Department recognises that more work needs to be done to tackle regional variations in phonics screening check results. To this end, a new national network of 32 English hubs has been announced, with £26.3 million invested to improve educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged children, particularly in underperforming schools. Due to the success of previous phonics roadshows which help schools use systematic synthetic phonics to support reading development, the Department has invested in a further 24 phonics roadshows in 2018-19. These will take place in local authority areas where phonics screening check scores in 2018 were below the national average.  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/phonics-screening-check-and-key-stage-1-assessments-england-2018. Table ‘L1’ (for year 1 pupils) and Table ‘L6’ (for year 2 pupils) in the ‘National, local authority and regional tables: national curriculum assessments in phonics screening checks in England, 2018’.[2] Figures for 2018 are based on provisional data, data for all other years is based on final data.[3] For 2013-2016 open the ‘phonics table’ and use ‘table 9’ at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/phonics-screening-check-and-key-stage-1-assessments-england-2016. For 2016/17 open the ‘phonics table’ and use ‘table_9’ at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/phonics-screening-check-and-key-stage-1-assessments-england-2017.

GCE A-level: Knowsley

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that young people in Knowsley have access to study academic A-level courses within the borough boundaries.

Anne Milton: The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) continues to liaise with the local authority and regional schools commissioner team to monitor improvements in key stage 4 provision in the borough and identify local need. The ESFA also meets regularly with SK College Group to discuss the college’s offer of A level provision at their Knowsley campus. For 2018/19 academic year the college made 68 offers to study academic A levels at its Knowsley campus. Twelve learners progressed to enrol and attend at the college. However, due to low numbers it was financially unviable to deliver at the Knowsley Campus, so the learners access A Level provision on the St Helens Campus via bespoke transport.For 2019 the college has committed to continue to promote the development of A level provision at the Knowsley campus and this is being marketed in their prospectus for 2019/20. They now have in place specific branding alongside targeted promotional activities including: a 2019 school leaver prospectus distributed to all local schools, supermarkets, convenience shops, community centres, and libraries; an A level advert in the college adult course guide in December which is distributed to 65,000 local homes across Knowsley and surrounding Liverpool areas; digital ad vans promoting the A level offer prior to college open evenings; and planned and targeted social media campaigns, local press promotions and railing banners. Furthermore, there are specific A level events for local school career advisers and school liaison teams are working directly in feeder borough schools to promote the A level offer.

Further Education: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many colleges are currently subject to a notice to improve financial health; and how many are projected to be subject to such a notice in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Anne Milton: There are currently 38 colleges that are subject to a notice to improve for financial health.The published response to the insolvency consultation stated that, using data and assumptions available at that time, over the first ten years of the insolvency policy (commences April 2019), an additional 63 colleges could meet the current triggers for a notice.The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published an Early Intervention and Prevention strategy, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/college-funding-early-intervention-and-prevention/early-intervention-strategy. This strategy outlines how the ESFA works with colleges where data shows that they could be at risk of failure.In addition, the ESFA is improving and increasing the financial information that it requests from colleges, which will be analysed by integrated expert teams, and is developing a strengthened approach to intervention and prevention approaches in advance of financial crisis.The department is also updating improved guidance for college governors, due later this month, to highlight governors’ fiduciary duties. They are in the process of appointing National Leaders of Governance to deliver sector-led support (alongside the National Leaders of Further Education). The Further Education Commissioner’s team has also expanded coverage of ‘diagnostic visits’ to colleges, which also highlight potential issues in advance of crisis, and offer recommendations for support and improvement.

Primary Education: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his appearance on the Andrew Marr Show on 11 November 2018, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the funding for the average class of 27 children in primary school is £132,000.

Nick Gibb: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) produces analysis of long range trends in school spending. This average class funding figure is based on the underlying data from the IFS’s 2017 report, converted into 2018-19 prices using the GDP deflator, which gives a per-pupil funding figure for primary schools of £4,891.41 in 2018-19. The full report is available here: https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/8937. This has been multiplied by 27 to generate the average class figure. The average class size for a primary school is 27.1, according to the January 2018 school census available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719226/Schools_Pupils_and_their_Characteristics_2018_Main_Text.pdf. Changes in predicted trends in inflation and the IFS’ methodology mean that this analysis may produce slightly different figures over time. The funding that individual schools receive through their local funding formulae and the pupil premium will vary depending on the characteristics of the pupils in each class.

Apprentices: Taxation

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the money raised through the apprenticeship levy has been spent by (a) local authority area and (b) region; and how many apprenticeships have been so funded in each (i) local authority (ii) region.

Anne Milton: Information on the apprenticeship levy collected by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and spent in each local authority or region of the UK is not available in the format requested. Many larger levy-paying employers are headquartered in one region but employ staff across the country meaning that we cannot attribute the levy collected and spent in individual locations. Individual employers have control of the expenditure of apprenticeship funds based on their current and future skills needs.Information on the number of apprenticeships funded in each region or local authority district is not available. However, we can provide the numbers of apprentices that have had some or all of their apprenticeship supported through levy funds based on their home postcode. Please see the attached files for levy-supported apprenticeship starts by region or local authority district; these figures are from May 2017, when changes to the apprenticeship funding system were implemented following the introduction of the levy, to April 2018. 



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Teachers: Pensions

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received on the treatment of (a) widowers and (b) widows under the Teachers' Pension scheme since the changes were made to that scheme in April 2018.

Nick Gibb: Changes were introduced to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in April 2018 to allow for the equalisation of survivor benefits for widows. This Scheme followed the Supreme Court’s determination in the case of Walker v Innospec Limited in 2017.Since then, the Department has received two representations from scheme members, regarding equalisation for widowers of opposite sex marriages.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase funding for special needs education.

Nadhim Zahawi: Nationally, high needs funding has risen by £1 billion since 2013-14, to just under £6 billion in 2018-19, and will rise to over £6 billion in 2019-20. The additional £1.3 billion announced last year for schools and high needs is above and beyond what was promised at the 2015 spending review, and means that local authorities received an additional £140 million in high needs funding in 2018-19. Allocations for each local authority this year can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019.Each local authority will attract a 1% increase in underlying funding per head of the population aged 2-18 years old in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18, following the increase of 0.5% they attracted last year. Underfunded authorities will continue to see higher increases – of up to 6% per head of of the population aged 2-18 years old, compared to 2017-18.We are listening to the concerns that some have expressed about the pressures on high needs budgets. We are monitoring the impact of our national funding formula for high needs on local authority spending decisions, and are keeping the overall amount of funding for high needs under review.

Apprentices: Taxation

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money has been collected under the apprenticeship levy by (a) local authority area and (b) region; and (b) how much of that funding has been drawn down by employers to fund apprenticeships.

Anne Milton: Information on the apprenticeship levy collected by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and spent in each local authority or region of the UK is not available in the format requested.Many larger levy-paying employers have their headquarters in one region, but they employ staff across the country. This means that we cannot attribute the levy that was collected and spent in individual locations. Individual employers control where apprenticeship funds are spent to meet their current and future skills needs.Since the introduction of the levy in April 2017, a total of £370 million has been paid to providers on behalf of employers from their apprenticeship levy accounts, as at 30 September 2018. Payments from the apprenticeship service are made one month in arrears.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money was reallocated from the Dedicated Schools Grant towards the High Needs Block in each local authority area in England in each of the last three years.

Nadhim Zahawi: Prior to 2018-19, local authorities were free to determine the balance of funding between their schools, high needs and early years budgets, all funded from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). It is not possible to give figures for transfers from the schools block to high needs, as the precise amounts spent by local authorities will also be affected by transfers to and from DSG reserves, and any funding from other sources (for instance, local authorities’ general funds) spent on educational purposes.In 2018-19, with the introduction of the national funding formulae for schools and high needs, we have limited this flexibility in order to ensure that the majority of schools funding that local authorities receive is going directly to schools.Local authorities are able to move up to 0.5% of their funding from the schools block to the high needs block, with agreement of their schools forum. This is explained in the high needs operational guide, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-funding-arrangements-2019-to-2020. Where a local authority wishes to move more funding, or the forum does not agree to the transfer, the local authority will be required to seek recourse to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education. Last year, after thorough consideration, 13 local authorities were granted the ability to move funding under these circumstances.We will publish data shortly showing the amount of schools block funding the local authorities has allocated this year, compared to the amount they received, thereby providing an indication of funding directed to other areas, such as high needs.

Teachers: Pensions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a phasing in period for higher education Institutions to implement the increased contribution to the teachers pension scheme.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The department will be running a public consultation regarding the funding of the rise in employer contributions for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and has already agreed to delay the introduction of these changes until September 2019. The department will use the consultation to better understand the impact of the proposed changes on the affected English higher education institutions to decide what, if any, action should be taken.

Department for Education: Staff

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many full-time equivalent staff of his Department are working on (a) early years' policy and (b) policy on provision of 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year olds.

Nadhim Zahawi: As of 15 November 2018, there were around 60 full-time equivalent members of staff working on early years’ policy and this includes the delivery of 30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year olds. Other staff members in the funding and analysis teams also contribute to the early years’ policy development as part of their work.

Ministry of Justice

Convictions: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders in Wales convicted for indictable offences had a previous criminal history in each year from 2013 to 2017.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders convicted in Wales had (a) zero, (b) one to six, (c) seven to 14 and (d) 15 or more previous criminal convictions or cautions in each year from 2013 to 2017.

Rory Stewart: Holding answer received on 02 November 2018



The information requested is provided in the tables below:Table 1: Number of offenders convicted of an indictable offence1 who had a previous conviction or caution2,3, 2013 to 2017, Wales4YearNumber of Offenders201317,267201416,303201515,863201613,780201712,476Source: Ministry of Justice extract of the Police National Computer (PNC)Notes:1) Indictable offences include triable either way offences2) Number of offenders who, at the time of their conviction, had been cautioned or convicted of any offence on a previous occasion3) Figures may exclude those who have a previous criminal history other than convictions or cautions recorded on the PNC (e.g. penalty notices for disorder, non-recordable offences not on the PNC)4) Cases prosecuted by a police force in the Wales region (Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, North Wales, South Wales) Table 2: Number of offenders convicted by number of previous convictions or cautions1,2, 2013 to 2017, Wales3Number of previous convictions or cautionsYear2013201420152016201703,6343,6444,0263,8833,8731 to 611,83911,24711,28810,1499,0157 to 146,8266,2486,2595,7945,15015 or more10,0379,8379,5338,7928,266Total32,33630,97631,10628,61826,304Source: Ministry of Justice extract of the Police National Computer (PNC)Notes: 1) The number of previous occasions on which the offender has been cautioned or convicted, at the time of the current conviction.2) Figures exclude convictions or cautions not on the PNC (e.g. for non-recordable offences)3) Cases prosecuted by a police force in the Wales region (Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, North Wales, South Wales)

Legal Aid Scheme

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether members of the legal profession and the judiciary were (a) consulted as part of the review of the (i) civil legal aid means test threshold in 2008 and (ii) criminal legal aid means test threshold in 2009 and (b) consulted when the government has evaluated the legal aid means test thresholds since those dates.

Lucy Frazer: There was no formal consultation with members of the legal profession or the Judiciary as part of the review of the civil legal aid means test threshold in 2009 and the criminal legal aid means test threshold in 2008 or subsequently. We are currently reviewing the changes made to legal aid as part of the Post-Implementation Review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 and have engaged with over 80 organisations as part of the evidence gathering process. We will use all the evidence we receive as part of our wider work to establish how best we can empower people to resolve their problems in a modern justice system.

Legal Aid Scheme

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate the Government has made of the cost to the Ministry of Justice budget of the increased number of litigants in person as a result of the means test threshold not being uprated in line with inflation in (a) civil legal aid since 2008 and (b) criminal legal aid since 2009.

Lucy Frazer: We are currently reviewing the changes made to legal aid as part of the Post-Implementation Review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing, and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 and have engaged with over 80 organisations as part of the evidence gathering process. We will use all the evidence we receive as part of our wider work to establish how best we can empower people to resolve their problems in a modern justice system. Unrepresented parties have always been a feature of the civil and family justice system. Since 2015, the Government has invested £5 million of funding to support litigants in person through a range of measures designed to provide additional information, support and guidance.

Civil Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme

Tonia Antoniazzi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying the so-called escape fee to the Civil Legal Advice scheme to ensure that advisers are paid above the fixed fees that apply where costs exceed the national fixed fee by a multiplier of three, in line with other parts of the Legal Aid system.

Lucy Frazer: There is already an escape fee built into the payment mechanism for the Civil Legal Advice (CLA) scheme. For Discrimination and Special Education Needs cases that fee is set by the service provider, submitted as part of their contract bid and for Family and Housing the LAA set that price at £46 per hour.

Ministry of Justice: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Edward Argar: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.   Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public-sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public-sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually on their payment performance.The MoJ strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to the Government Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Youth Offending Teams: Finance

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the real terms changes have been in his Department's total funding for youth offending teams in each year since 2010.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prison Sentences: Males

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many men were sentenced to prison for less than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months in the first six months of 2018 by Home Office offence code.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women were sentenced to prison for less than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months in the first six months of 2018 by Home Office offence code.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were sentenced to prison for less than (a) one month, (b) three months an (c) six months in the first six months of 2018 by Home Office offence code.

Rory Stewart: The total number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody from January to June 2018 for (a) less than 1 month, (b) 1 month to less than 3 months and (c) 3 months to 6 months, broken down by Home Office offence code, can be viewed in Table 1. Table 2 and Table 3 break this information down by men and women respectively. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, who take into account all circumstances of the case, including any aggravating and mitigating factors. Whilst there is persuasive evidence that short custodial sentences do not help some offenders turn their backs on crime, protecting the public will always be our top priority. Under this government, the most serious offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer, helping protect the public and keep communities safe. Our message is simple – if you commit a serious offence, you should expect to go to prison. We will not reduce the prison population just to save money.



Table
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Young Offenders: Ethnic Groups

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to Question 165113 on Young Offenders: Ethnic Groups, if he will update that table with each month up to the most recently available figures.

Edward Argar: The information requested is in table 1 below relating to under 18 year olds in custody and is taken from provisional figures included within the regularly published Youth Custody data;https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-dataWe are committed to tackling the over-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children in the youth justice system. In building on the Lammy Review, we are taking a broader view of how we can tackle the systemic causes of disproportionality across the system and engaging with key stakeholders, including other government departments, to develop proposals for intervention. Jun-18Jul-18Aug-18Sep-18BAME young people in custody413415409400% BAME of total under-18 custodial population (excluding unknowns)48%48%47%47%

Birmingham Prison: Prisoners' Transfers

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 178353 on Birmingham Prison: Prisoners' Transfers, how many of the 300 prisoners moved out of HMP Birmingham at that time went to each other prison in England and Wales.

Rory Stewart: As set out in my response to PQ178535, one of the measures Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) implemented after stepping in to run HM Prison Birmingham was to temporarily reduce the operational capacity by 300 places. The capacity reduction was not immediate and was delivered over time with the gradual reduction of the prison’s population through a combination of: end of sentence releases, diversion of court allocations to other prisons in the region and routine allocations of sentenced prisoners to other establishments as part of their sentence progression as is normal for a prison with a ‘local’ function.Men who were transferred were subject to the same criteria as all prison moves, taking into account a range of factors such as security category, resettlement needs and release address, offending behaviour needs and personal circumstances.

Reoffenders

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the adult proven re-offending rate has been in each region since 2010 for (a) male and (b) female prisoners who have served a custodial sentence of (i) 0 -1 month (ii) 0 - 3 months and (iii) 0 - 6 months.

Rory Stewart: Adult proven reoffending data, broken down by region, gender and custodial sentence length, can be viewed in the table. This information is broken down by a custodial sentence length of 0-1 months, a custodial sentence length of 0-3 months, and a custodial sentence length of 0-6 months.



Table
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Prisons: Overcrowding

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is to tackle overcrowding in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: We are committed to making prisons places of safety and reform and have ambitious plans to transform our estate, including reducing overcrowding. We are delivering up to 10,000 new prison places across the country, and recently announced that two new prisons would be built at Wellingborough and Glen Parva where all cells in normal accommodation are being designed as single person cells. Prison governors are responsible for ensuring the level of operational capacity is set to reflect the provision of safe and decent accommodation.

Ministry of Justice: Research

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department maintains a record of research it has commissioned.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Youth Justice Board: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to close the Youth Justice Board Cymru at 4-6 Orchard Street, Swansea.

Edward Argar: The Department has no plans to close the Youth Justice Board Cymru at 4-6 Orchard Street, Swansea.

Administration of Justice: Older People

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking help older people maintain access to services in a modernising court system.

Lucy Frazer: Ensuring access to justice is a fundamental principle of the Government and judiciary’s £1bn reform programme to transform our courts and tribunals system. The reform programme aims to expand the ways users can resolve their justice needs, while maintaining and improving traditional methods for those who need them. We are designing the reformed services to be accessible for all, including older users, and to provide users with options on how they can interact with our services as well as access appropriate support, should they need to do so. Many users will be able to benefit from new digital services and, if needed, will be able to seek telephone or face to face support to help them to use these. This ‘assisted digital’ support is currently in place for the ‘Application’ stage for our reformed services for Divorce, Civil Money Claims, Social Security & Child Support Tribunal, Probate and the Single Justice Service. Where assisted digital support is not appropriate or sufficient, users will continue to be able to use traditional methods, such as paper forms, which are also being improved and made more accessible.

Prisons: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministry of Justice secures extra £52 million for targeted expenditure, published in 30 October 2018, how much of the £52 million for targeted expenditure is planned to be allocated to help reduce violence in prisons in South Yorkshire.

Rory Stewart: Holding answer received on 15 November 2018



The Department is currently working on allocating the exact split of the additional £52m investment across its estate, including how much will be assigned to improve safety and security. Consequently, we do not yet have the level of detail split by prison.We have committed to spending £30m on improvements to the safety and decency of our prison estate, enhancing security and tackling drugs through roll out of body scanners, and accelerating our digital capability which includes development of mobile phone blocking technology. This is on top of the £40m announced over the summer, meaning a total of £70m is already being directed to tackling drugs and violence, and improving the basic conditions of our prisons. including targeted investment in our 10 priority prisons, which includes six prisons in Yorkshire.

Family Courts: Domestic Visits

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State last visited a family court in his official capacity.

Lucy Frazer: As the Minister responsible for family justice, Lucy Frazer frequently visits a variety of courts. Most recently on 22nd October, she visited the Central Family Court to see the workings of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) that sits there.

Ministry of Justice: Buildings

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2018 to Question 157090 on Ministry of Justice: Buildings, how many days each Minister in his Department spent in Petty France between 4 September 2017 and 4 October 2017.

Edward Argar: Between 4 September 2017 and 4 October 2017 Dr Phillip Lee MP spent 7 days in the Ministry of Justice; David Lidington MP 13 days; Dominic Raab MP 7 days and Sam Gyimah MP 10 days.Lord Keen has a dual role as Advocate General for Scotland and MoJ spokesperson in the House of Lords, as such, he spent 3 days in the department on Ministry of Justice business.All ministers are required to split their departmental time between 102 Petty France and other locations such as the House of Commons/Lords. As such departmental meetings and business are regularly undertaken at the House of Commons/Lords, this reflects the nature of Parliamentary obligations and legislative business.In addition to this, visits are often undertaken as part of Ministerial duties. The information provided is for days spent partially or entirely in 102 Petty France.

Refugees: Families

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the ability of sponsors to meet the legal costs of refugee family reunion (a) applications and (b) subsequent reviews or appeals to those applications.

Lucy Frazer: The Government does not collect data on the private legal costs of individuals to assist with a refugee family reunion application.

Prison Sentences

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on the review of sentences for public protection; and how many cases have been reviewed to date.

Rory Stewart: Whilst HMPPS is focused on giving all IPP prisoners opportunities to progress towards release, public protection is our priority. According to management information held by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), over 1,300 case reviews of prisoners serving a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) have been completed to date. These are psychology-led reviews designed to help post-tariff IPP prisoners, who have had at least two previous unsuccessful parole reviews and who have never been to open conditions or been released into the community. For this particular cohort, as of August this year, 131 such prisoners have subsequently achieved release, with a further 252 achieving a move to open conditions. More generally, HMPPS have been working to improve the management and progression of IPP prisoners for some time, which is evident in the increasing number of overall releases we have seen in recent years: 576 in 2016 and 616 last year.

Prisoners: Pregnancy

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that pregnant female prisoners receive adequate medical care (a) during their pregnancy and (b) when giving birth.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of imprisoned foreign national offenders have been transferred from the UK to a prison in the country of which they are a national under the EU prisoner Transfer Framework Decision since December 2011.

Rory Stewart: Any foreign national who comes to our country and abuses our hospitality by breaking the law should be in no doubt of our determination to punish and deport them. More than 44,000 foreign national offenders have been removed from the UK since 2010, and in the last financial year almost 6,000 were removed from prisons, immigration removal centres, and the community. The Early Removal Scheme is the principal method for removing foreign national offenders early from prison. In 2017/18, over 2000 foreign national offenders were removed under this scheme. In addition, prisoners may be transferred to a prison in their own country. The principal compulsory prisoner transfer scheme is the EU Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision (Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA). The table below gives the proportion of EU nationals held in prisons and the HMPPS run IRC. The table includes those EU nationals held on remand, those serving short sentences, and those held under immigration powers who are not eligible for transfer.   Number of prisoners transferred under the EU PTFDEU FNO population (inc. IRCs) as at 30 June each yearPercentage transferred (Transfers divided by Population)201103,688-201203,818-2013163,9990.4%2014194,2520.4%2015384,1260.9%2016814,2051.9%2017954,0242.4%201885 (to 31 Oct)3,9052.2% The EU PTFD came into force in December 2011. At that time only four Member States, in addition to the UK, had implemented the Framework Decision. Other Member States implemented the Framework Decision at various dates from 2012 onwards. Two Member States have yet to implement the agreement. The number of prisoners transferred has risen steadily since 2013 as Member States put in place new legislation and procedures necessary to implement the Framework Decision. Prior to a Member State’s implementation of the Framework Decision transfers took place under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. These transfers are not included in the table. The number of foreign national offenders held in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for their respective governments.

Legal Aid Scheme

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have used legal aid to fund their legal case in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does not track expenditure by the person/s involved. Our data is indexed by individual grants of funding. One individual may receive multiple grants of funding over the course of their life, and one legal aid certificate may cover more than one legal case. The MoJ regularly publishes statistical data which includes volumes of successful applications for legal aid funding. The most recent published information is recorded here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-april-to-june-2018. Mapping this information to specific individuals or legal cases would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid Scheme: Slavery

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2018 to Question 188815 on Legal Aid Scheme: Slavery, whether the specific legal aid provision for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking for immigration advice and representation, including assistance with applications for leave to enter or remain, subject to means and merits testing, applies to applications for (a) permanent residence and (b) pre-settled status.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions people convicted of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 were given a custodial sentence in each of the last three years.

Rory Stewart: Figures on the number of people sentenced to custody for offences of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from 2015 to 2017 can be found in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733981/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2017-update.xlsx. Search ‘Offence’ for ‘108a Animal Cruelty under sections 4-8 under Animal Welfare Act 2006’. It is important to remember that these figures are on a principle offence basis. When a defendant has been prosecuted for two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty would be imposed.

Prison Officers: Labour Turnover

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to Answer of 31 October 2018 to Question 184426 on Prisons: Crimes of Violence; how many prison officers were re-hired who had previously left.

Rory Stewart: The number of band 3-5 prison officers who have re-joined HMPPS after having previously left since 2009/10 is provided in table 1. Table 1: Number of band 3-5 prison officers1 who have re-joined HMPPS after previously leaving2, since 2009/10  HeadcountFinancial YearNumber of band 3-5 prison officer who have re-joined HMPPS2009/1012010/1152011/1232012/1342013/1402014/151042015/16272016/171022017/181262018/19 (to Sep 30th 2018)61Grand Total433  1 Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2 Instances where the latest hire date is within 28 days of the leaving date have been excluded from the above figures. This is because anyone re-joining within 28 days legally still has continuity of employment. There has been a net increase of 3,653 new officers since we announced our target to recruit 2,500 more staff, meaning that officers with more experience make up a smaller proportion of total staffing numbers. We recognise that experienced prison officers do a vital job in protecting the public every day in very challenging environments and we want them to stay and progress their careers alongside these new recruits. That is why we have increased pay 2.75% this year, on top of a 1.7% average increase last year, and have given Governors greater autonomy to do what is necessary to retain their most experienced staff. It is also why we are rolling out body worn cameras, ‘police-style’ handcuffs and restraints, and trialling PAVA incapacitant spray to ensure prison officers have the tools they need to do the job safely.

Prison Officers: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers in South Yorkshire prisons have less than two years experience in that career.

Rory Stewart: Holding answer received on 19 November 2018



Figures for the number of offences of rape recorded by the police are published by the Office for National Statistics. The number of defendants prosecuted in the North East and England for rape offences are published by the Ministry of Justice and can be found in the Court Outcomes by Police Force Area data tool in the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733996/court-outcomes-by-pfa-2017-update.xlsx To calculate the total for England, deselect ‘Dyfed-Powys’, ‘Gwent’, ‘North Wales’ and ‘South Wales’ in the ‘Police Force Area’ filter.To identify the North East, select ‘Cleveland’, ‘Durham’, ‘Humberside’, ‘North Yorkshire’, ‘Northumbria’, ‘South Yorkshire’ and ‘West Yorkshire’ in the ‘Police Force Area’ filter.For the number of prosecutions, filter ‘Court Type’ by ’02: Magistrates Court’.For rape offences, filter ‘Offence’ to:o 19C Rape of a female aged 16 or overo 19D Rape of a female aged under 16o 19E Rape of a female child under 13 by a maleo 19F Rape of a male aged under 16o 19G Rape of a male aged 16 or overo 19H Rape of a male child under 13 by a male

Rape: Prosecutions

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases of rape were (a) recorded and (b) prosecuted in each of the last three years in (i) the North East and (ii) England.

Rory Stewart: Figures for the number of offences of rape recorded by the police are published by the Office for National Statistics. The number of defendants prosecuted in the North East and England for rape offences are published by the Ministry of Justice and can be found in the Court Outcomes by Police Force Area data tool in the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733996/court-outcomes-by-pfa-2017-update.xlsx To calculate the total for England, deselect ‘Dyfed-Powys’, ‘Gwent’, ‘North Wales’ and ‘South Wales’ in the ‘Police Force Area’ filter.To identify the North East, select ‘Cleveland’, ‘Durham’, ‘Humberside’, ‘North Yorkshire’, ‘Northumbria’, ‘South Yorkshire’ and ‘West Yorkshire’ in the ‘Police Force Area’ filter.For the number of prosecutions, filter ‘Court Type’ by ’02: Magistrates Court’.For rape offences, filter ‘Offence’ to:o 19C Rape of a female aged 16 or overo 19D Rape of a female aged under 16o 19E Rape of a female child under 13 by a maleo 19F Rape of a male aged under 16o 19G Rape of a male aged 16 or overo 19H Rape of a male child under 13 by a male

Prisons: Synthetic Cannabinoids

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents related to the drug Spice have been reported in prisons in South Yorkshire in the last two years.

Rory Stewart: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisoners: Childbirth

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women have given birth in prison in each year since 2015; and what proportion of those women had an appropriately trained medical professional present at the birth.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Legal Aid Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many legal aid providers there were in each region of England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Legal Aid Scheme: Procurement

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many procurement areas have (a) no and (b) one legal aid advice provider.

Lucy Frazer: There are no procurement areas where there are fewer than two legal aid providers holding a contract in at least one category of law.

Treasury

Financial Services: Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on managing the risk to the financial system posed by climate change.

Catherine West: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the Bank’s role in mobilising finance for the low-carbon transition.

John Glen: Treasury Ministers have meetings with a variety of public and private organisations, including the Bank of England, as part of the process of policy development. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel Green Finance is an important area of collaboration with the Bank of England, and we welcome the Bank’s recent announcement to set out, for consultation, supervisory expectations for banks and insurers to consider climate risks in their approach.

Financial Services: Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the effect of climate change on the Bank’s ability to preserve macroeconomic stability.

John Glen: Treasury Ministers have meetings with a variety of public and private organisations, including the Bank of England, as part of the process of policy development. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel Green Finance is an important area of collaboration with the Bank of England, and we welcome the Bank’s recent announcement to set out, for consultation, supervisory expectations for banks and insurers to consider climate risks in their approach.

Treasury: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Crown Estate, (iii) the Financial Conduct Authority, (iv) the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, (v) the National Infrastructure Commission, (vi) the Payment Systems Regulator and (vii) the Royal Mint in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Crown Estate, (iii) the Financial Conduct Authority, (iv) the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, (v) the National Infrastructure Commission, (vi) the Payment Systems Regulator and (vii) the Royal Mint in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Robert Jenrick: The Treasury’s spend on electricity and natural gas between 1 April and 31 March 2018 was £1,506,000. The quantity consumed for electricity and natural gas was 8,170,000 kwh and 85,000 kwh respectively. The other entities are split below:  ElectricityGasCostkWhkWh£’000HM Treasury (1)8,174,00085,0001,506Crown Estate (2)NilNil81Infrastructure and Projects Authority (3)NilNilNilNational Infrastructure Commission (4)NilNilNilRoyal Mint Ltd (5)130,000,00061,000,00013,657Financial Conduct Authority (6)33,549.295829,3513,957 Information is published within HM Treasury 2017-18 Annual Report and Accounts pages 189 and 190 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-treasury-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018The Crown Estate Head Office costs are for Electricity only. Neither the spend for natural gas nor the quantity figures for both electricity and gas are easily available and could not extract them without incurring disproportionate cost.The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) figures are part of the Cabinet Office and would form part of their remit.The National Infrastructure Commission spend and quantity for electricity and natural gas are not easily available and could not extract them without incurring disproportionate costThe Royal Mint Ltd uses large amounts of electricity and gas in the manufacturing of coinage and has recently invested in a renewable energy source with the purchase of a wind turbine.The Financial Conduct Authority figures are including the Payment Systems Regulator as they do not split them out. The figures exclude 1 Canada Square and Edinburgh as utilities are included in the service charge. This information is provided in our report and accounts on page 146 https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/annual-reports/annual-report-2017-18.pdf

Treasury: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Robert Jenrick: Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually on their payment performance. Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.

Talk Money Week

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to support Talk Money Week which takes place from 12 to 18 November as part of the Financial Capability Strategy for the UK.

John Glen: HM Treasury works closely with the Money Advice (MAS), the main organisers of Talk Money Week, on debt advice, financial capability and financial education policy. The Government strongly supports Talk Money Week and I provided the keynote speech at the Talk Money Conference on 14th November.

Treasury: Public Bodies

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to close (a) the Royal Mint Advisory Committee office in Llantrisant, Pontyclun, (b) the Valuation Office Agency on High Street, Bangor, (c) the Valuation Office Agency at Picton Terrace, Carmarthen, (d) the Valuation Office on Regent Street, Rexham, (e) the Valuation Office Agency at Chepstow Road, Newport, (f) the Valuation Office Agency on High Street, Swansea, (g) the Valuation Office Agency on Churton Road, Rhyl, (h) the Valuation Office Agency on Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, (i) the Valuation Office Agency on Ty Glas Road, Cardiff, (j) the Inland Revenue Office at 27 Westgate Street, Cardiff, (k) the HMRC office on Stepney Street, Llanelli, (l) the HMRC office on Britannia Terrace, Porthmadog and (m) the HMRC office on Ellice Way, Wrexham.

Mel Stride: HM Treasury have confirmed that the Royal Mint Advisory Committee have no plans to close the office in Llantrisant, Pontyclun.The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) office on High Street, Bangor is due to close in 2020-21.The VOA office at Picton Terrace, Carmarthen is due to close in October 2019.Wrexham is a long-term location for the VOA.The VOA office on Cheapstow Road, Newport closed in January 2017.Swansea is a long-term location for the VOA.The VOA office on Churton Road, Rhyl is due to close in October 2019.The VOA office on Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil closed in March 2016.The VOA is currently located on Ty Glas Road, Cardiff. They intend to remain in Cardiff, and plan to relocate into the Cardiff Government hub, co-located with HMRC during 2020-2021.Whilst there was an Inland Revenue Office at 27 Westgate Street, Cardiff, HMRC do not hold records of when this office closed.The HMRC office on Stepney Street, Llanelli closed in 2014-2015.The HMRC office on Britannia Terrace, Porthmadog closed in May 2018.HMRC will continue to occupy the office on Ellice Way, Wrexham until 2020-2021. The VOA’s estates programme aligns to the wider Government Estate Strategy, and in the future VOA offices will often be based in Government Hubs, enabling closer working with other government departments. The intention is for the VOA's estates strategy to balance affordability, geographical coverage and allow more efficient and digital ways of working. As office space is reduced, the VOA will seek, where possible, to retain people and their skills in the Agency.

Banks: Iran

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the risk of liability to sanctions by the US of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication if it continues to process financial transactions from Iranian banks.

John Glen: The UK fully implements UN, EU and UK domestic sanctions law. The re-imposition of the US sanctions against Iran may have commercial and legal implications for businesses and individuals dealing with Iran. It is a commercial decision for businesses, including the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, to decide on their own risk appetite and to take into account the costs of managing those risks.

Commercial Banks

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the progress of UK banks in ring-fencing retail services from investment banking.

John Glen: Under the 2012 Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act large UK banks with retail deposits totalling more than £25 billion are required to ring-fence the deposits of individuals and small businesses from other activities within their groups, such as investment and international banking. All banks within scope of the ring-fencing regime have successfully completed the necessary restructuring of their operations in advance of the regime coming into force in January 2019. This includes moving customers from one part of the bank to another, changing over a million sort codes and the joining of both UK and international payment systems to facilitate operational separation. The banks have also completed large technology migrations as part of the changes to their internal processes By insulating these core banking services in a separate legal entity, ring-fencing will support continuity of provision of vital services to the economy if there are shocks originating elsewhere in the group and the global financial system. It will also make banks that provide these essential services simpler and more resolvable and therefore prevent the costs of failing banks falling on taxpayers.

Digital Technology: Training

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ring-fence additional funding to enhance further education training in digital capability.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government will introduce an entitlement to full funding for basic digital courses from 2020. Adults will have the opportunity to undertake improved digital courses based on new national standards free of charge. As is the case for the English and maths adult entitlements, the new basic digital skills entitlement will be funded through the Adult Education Budget. In the interim, we will continue to support the provision of basic digital skills training for adults in colleges and community learning centres across England through the Adult Education Budget and other programmes.

Private Finance Initiative

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's definition is of privately financed in relation to infrastructure projects.

Elizabeth Truss: Private finance is a way to deliver infrastructure projects in which the private sector invests equity and/or lends in order to facilitate the development, delivery, and/or operation of a project, asset or entity with the expectation of earning a return on the investment.

Children: Day Care

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints have been revived from people left unable to access their childcare account as a result of technical difficulties in each year since the introduction of those accounts.

Elizabeth Truss: The vast majority of parents apply for and use their childcare account without problems, including getting their 30 hours eligibility code. Where parents have experienced technical issues, HMRC has arrangements in place to ensure that they do not miss out as a result. Manual codes are issued to enable parents to access a 30 hours place when they are eligible if they cannot get a digital code within the required timeline. The number of manual codes issued has been decreasing since September 2017 as the system has become embedded and enhanced. To 31 October 2018, HMRC has received 4,560 complaints from parents who have experienced technical issues with the childcare service. To 31 October 2018, HMRC has issued 35,370 codes manually to parents. To 31 October 2018, HMRC has paid out £200,000 in redress to parents for expenses such as telephone calls to the helpline.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Financial Ombudsman's Annual Report 2017-18, for what reasons the Financial Ombudsman upheld the lowest rate of complaints in the last 10 years in 2017-2018.

John Glen: This is a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which is independent from Government. The FOS will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Religious Buildings: VAT

Graham P Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to remove VAT from services and items included for the repair and maintenance of (a) churches and (b) other religious buildings.

Mel Stride: Under the current EU rules, the government cannot remove VAT on the repair and maintenance of places of worship.The government recognises the importance of places of worship in our communities and provides funding to cover the cost of repairs and maintenance of listed places of worship through The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, managed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Scottish higher rate taxpayers have contacted HM Revenue and Customs in the last 12 months to register elsewhere in the UK for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: Whether someone is a Scottish taxpayer is defined in legislation and is normally determined by where they have their only or main residence. HMRC does not hold data on the reasons for taxpayer moves.

Social Services: Finance

Dr David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement of additional funding for social care in 2019-20 in Budget 2018, how his Department calculated the adequacy of that funding in order to meet the immediate needs of local authorities and social care providers; and what the source of that additional funding is.

Elizabeth Truss: The government recognises the social care sector faces short term pressures, which is why Autumn Budget 2018 announced an additional £650 million for councils in 2019/20 for social care. This is additional funding sourced from the Exchequer.

VAT: Electronic Government

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on implementing the pilot system for VAT ahead of the introduction of the Making Tax Digital regime in April 2019.

Mel Stride: In October HMRC opened the pilot to around half a million businesses which meet the initial eligibility criteria. This means that around half of businesses with turnover above the VAT threshold will be able to join the new service now, and begin familiarising themselves with it, with further businesses eligible to join shortly.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what level of capital funding he plans to allocate for the delivery of improvements to rail access related to the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government’s position in relation to funding Surface Access at airports is set out in the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework and reiterated in the Airports National Policy Statement which was designated in June 2018. Where a scheme is not solely required to deliver airport capacity and has a wider range of beneficiaries, the Government, along with relevant stakeholders, will consider the need for a public funding contribution alongside an appropriate contribution from the airport on a case by case basis. The Government is supporting Heathrow Surface Access schemes subject to the development of a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry.

Gaming Machines: Excise Duties

Jim McMahon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of tax receipts as a result of the decision to delay reducing the Fixed Odds Betting Terminal stake.

Robert Jenrick: As the Chancellor set out to the Treasury Select Committee on 5 November, changes to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and Remote Gaming Duty will be implemented simultaneously. This ensures that regardless of when changes to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and Remote Gaming Duty are implemented, there will be no significant change to the exchequer impact.

Public Sector: Pensions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 November 2018 to Question 186391 on Public Sector: Pensions, when the Government's Actuary Department completed its analysis of the police service pension scheme which led to the revaluations communicated in the Statement of 6 September 2018 on quadrennial valuations of the public service pension schemes.

Elizabeth Truss: As set out in my written statement HCWS945 and in my‎ Answer of 31 October 2018 to Question 186391, the actuarial valuation of the scheme, carried out by the Government Actuary's Department, is ongoing. The statement set out proposed amendments to the directions to be used in the valuations. The Government Actuary's Department is undertaking ongoing valuations based on these directions. The final directions will be published before the end of the year.

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse since 2011 from preventing individuals and companies using accounting derecognition rules in relation to loans and derivatives to avoid paying corporation tax.

Mel Stride: Legislation was introduced with effect from 6 December 2010 to address avoidance schemes under which profits were said to fall out of account, or tax relief for losses were claimed, as a result of the way in which financial assets were recognised in accounts. Since that date, existing schemes have been unwound and there have been no further known iterations of these schemes. The measure has therefore been successful in protecting revenues, but it is not possible to say how much would otherwise have been lost.

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse since 2011 through the prevention of tax avoidance resulting from the creation for corporate investors of a credit for UK tax where no tax has been paid.

Mel Stride: Legislation was introduced with effect from 27 February 2012 to address a tax avoidance scheme which sought to obtain tax credits for a corporate investor in relation to distributions made by an Authorised Investment Fund where no underlying tax had in fact been suffered. Separately, legislation was introduced with effect from 15 September 2011 to address tax avoidance which sought to obtain a tax advantage in relation to manufactured overseas dividends, involving claims to repay or set-off withholding tax which had not actually been suffered. Since these measures were introduced, there have been no known further iterations of these avoidance schemes. They have therefore been successful in protecting revenues, but it is not possible to say how much would otherwise have been lost.

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse since 2011 from enabling HMRC to require a security from employers where there is a serious risk that tax due under PAYE or class 1 NICs will go unpaid.

Mel Stride: HMRC do not measure revenue accruals from Security payments relating to PAYE and/or NICs as this type of intervention is a deposit in absolute terms, which is either used against unpaid liabilities as may be appropriate, or returned to the customer once the risk of non- payment has been reasonably mitigated; therefore the deposits are not additional monies outside of any such liability.

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse since 2011 from the (a) introduction of anti-avoidance measures which have modified tax rules that apply to overseas life insurance companies and (b) application of the transfer of business rules when non-profit business is transferred to a non-EEA country.

Mel Stride: Legislation was introduced following the 2010 Summer Budget to counter an avoidance scheme involving the transfer of insurance business with unrecognised profits. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is not aware of any instances of this avoidance entered into after the legislation was announced, but it is not possible to say how much tax would otherwise have been lost.The changes referred to in the question relating to overseas life insurance companies and to transfers of business to non-EEA countries, also proposed in the 2010 Summer Budget, were not anti-avoidance measures. Subsequently Ministers decided not proceed with these measures so HMRC and industry could focus on the substantial changes to the tax rules for life insurance companies introduced in Finance Act 2012.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to increase private sector spending on R&D in order to meet the 2027 target announced in Budget 2018.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in science and innovation and has introduced a wide range of policies to stimulate private sector investment in Research and Development, ranging from increases in government funding of R&D to improvements to the wider institutional and tax environment for R&D and a new patient capital investment programme. Internationally, the UK is a highly attractive place for R&D, ranking 4th on the 2018 global innovation index. Since 2016, the Government has committed an additional £7bn of public funding to R&D by 2021-22. This is the largest boost by any government for 40 years and will leverage significant private investment. On average, every public pound spent on R&D generates an additional £1.36 of private spending. In addition, support for businesses through R&D tax credits has tripled since 2010, reaching £3.5 billion in 2016/17. At Autumn Budget 2017, the government announced a 10-year action plan to unlock over £20bn to finance growth in innovative firms, including launching a new £2.5bn investment programme, British Patient Capital, and extending the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). Taken together, these policies will accelerate private investment in R&D, building on the healthy real-terms growth of 26 per cent we experienced between 2010 and 2016 (the last year of official data).

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has accrued to the public purse since 2013 from the introduction of anti-avoidance measures related to the introduction of a General Anti-Abuse Rule.

Mel Stride: The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR), introduced in 2013, is expected to raise £235m. The success of the GAAR should not be measured by how much it is expected to raise or the number of times the rule has been invoked. The principle purpose of the GAAR is to deter taxpayers from entering into abusive tax arrangements in the first place, and initial evidence suggests that GAAR is having this effect. Before HMRC can use the GAAR, it must first refer the case to the GAAR Advisory Panel, an external body separate to HMRC. To date the GAAR Advisory Panel has agreed with HMRC’s view on all cases referred to them. Their opinions are published on GOV.UK.

Private Finance Initiative

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to PFI contracts announced in Budget 2018 on job security.

Elizabeth Truss: The government has announced that it will no longer use Private Finance 2 (PF2), the current model of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), for new projects. PF2 has not been used since 2016. However, the government will continue to support private investment in infrastructure through a range of successful established tools. Project finance and commercial skills therefore remain highly valued and critical to infrastructure delivery for government. The government has announced that it will honour existing PFI and PF2 contracts. In addition, the government will launch a pilot ‘Centre of Best Practice’ (CBP) in the Department of Health and Social Care to help Trusts maximise the value of their existing PFI contracts.

Double Taxation: Crown Dependencies

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department took steps to seek to include an increase in transparency for beneficial ownership registers in the negotiations for the double taxation treaties with Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

John Glen: Beneficial ownership registers are outside of the scope of a double taxation treaty and so did not feature in the negotiations with Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. Double taxation treaties are based on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Model Tax Convention, which does not include beneficial ownership registers.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government: Coastal Areas

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what financial support his Department provides to local authorities that serve coastal communities.

James Brokenshire: We are committed to supporting coastal communities to unlock barriers to their development and growth, and to strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit.Since 2012 we have provided coastal communities in England with £132 million of support through the Coastal Communities Fund, £3.7 million through the Coastal Revival Fund and provided £1.46 million to support the establishment of 146 Coastal Communities Teams around the English Coastline. We are continuing to support coastal communities with at least £40 million in the current round (Round 5) of Coastal Communities Fund and with a further £1 million for the Coastal Revival Fund.

Care Leavers: Rough Sleeping

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of young people who sleep rough and have spent time in foster care.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not collect statistics on whether or not people sleeping rough have spent time in foster care. However, the department does produce annual rough sleeping counts and estimates, which are single night snapshots of the number of people sleeping rough in local authority areas. In autumn 2017, there were 369 people aged 25 years and under who were recorded as sleeping rough in England.From April of this year, the Government extended personal adviser support for all care leavers up to age 25. The recently published Rough Sleeping Strategy also committed an additional £3.2 million of funding for 47 local authority areas to employ specialist personal advisers. They will provide intensive support for care leavers with the most complex needs who are most at risk of rough sleeping.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Brexit

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the total cost to the public purse is of new staff employed by his Department to assist in preparations for the UK leaving the EU since 23 June 2016.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working with the Department for Exiting the EU and other government departments to prepare the UK's exit from the EU. Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department's other priorities, it is not possible to provide a reliable figure on expenditure related to new staff employed since June 2016 who are assisting with preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Adroit Economics

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the (a) project specification of the work and (b) any completed outputs arising from the commissioning of an analysis arising from the commissioning of evaluation and analytical services from Adroit Economics Ltd.

James Brokenshire: Information about the requirements for this project are available on the Government contracts finder web site. The outputs of work undertaken under this contract are reflected, for example, in the assessment of impacts included in the recent consultations on fire safety issues and has helped inform the development of policy on other Building Regulations’ matters.

Buildings: Insulation

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2018 to Question 164527 on Buildings: Insulation, what assessment he has made of the level of risk combustible cladding poses to (a) schools, (b) care homes and (c) hospitals.

Kit Malthouse: The remediation programme underway since the Grenfell Tower tragedy is dealing with Aluminium Composite Materials cladding systems which are unsafe. We expect building owners to be systematically reviewing the safety of their buildings as a matter of course. All buildings covered under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which include schools, hospitals, and residential care premises, must have their fire risk assessment regularly reviewed so as to keep it up to date.Schools are very safe environments in this regard as they are typically occupied during the daytime and have multiple exit routes. In addition, all schools must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including having an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment and conducting regular fire drills.NHS trusts are locally responsible for their fire safety, and take it very seriously. Fire safety guidance specific to the NHS, Firecode, is provided to support them in doing this. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, NHS organisations must, as far as is reasonably practical, make sure that everyone on the premises, or nearby, can escape safely if there is a fire. They will therefore consider the ban on combustible cladding as part of the regular fire risk assessments they carry out on their existing estate

Leasehold: Reform

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the (a) people and (b) organisations that were invited to the roundtable event on leasehold reform on Thursday 8 November.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The Secretary of State met with industry stakeholders on Thursday 8 November to discuss how best to support existing leaseholders with onerous leases.Names of invitees cannot be disclosed for data protection reasons. The organisations invited to attend the meeting were as follows: Adriatic LandAvivaBarclaysBarratt HomesBellwayBuilding Societies AssociationCity and DocklandsCompetition and Markets AuthorityConsensus Business GroupConveyancing AssociationCountryside PropertiesE&J EstatesFairview New HomesFirst BaseFreehold CorporationGalliford TryHelicalHiggins ConstructionHome Builders FederationHSBCInspired VillagesLaing O’RoukeLand Charter HomesLandmark InvestmentsLaw SocietyLinea HomesLloyds BankLong HarbourLPC LivingMiller HomesMorris HomesNewcourt ResidentialPersimmon HomesPier ManagementRedrowRothesay LifeRoyal Bank of ScotlandSantanderSolicitors Regulation AuthorityTaylor WimpeyTrading StandardsUK FinanceWeston Homes

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Planning Inspectorate, (iii) the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, (iv) the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, and (v) Homes England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jake Berry: The information requested for (i) the Department, (ii) Planning Inspectorate, (iii) Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and (v) Homes England are set out in the tables at annex A. The information for (iv) the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) is not held centrally. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to delivering a sustainable government estate and has reduced its carbon emissions by 64 per cent since 2009-10.



PQ 189712 - Quantity of Gas and Electricity 
(Word Document, 21.23 KB)

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Planning Inspectorate, (iii) the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, (iv) the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and (v) Homes England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jake Berry: The information requested for (i) the Department, (ii) Planning Inspectorate, (iii) Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and (v) Homes England are set out in the attached table.The information for (iv) the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) is not held centrally.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to delivering a sustainable government estate and has reduced its carbon emissions by 64 per cent since 2009-10.



PQ 189713 - Table of  cost of Gas and Electricity
(Word Document, 30.94 KB)

Council Tax: Non-payment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to bring England in line with the rest of the UK by ending the use of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax debt.

Rishi Sunak: Imprisonment should only ever be the last resort for non-payment of council tax. Before a magistrates’ court commits someone to prison for failure to pay their council tax, it must inquire as to the debtor’s means, and satisfy itself that failure to pay is due to “wilful refusal or culpable neglect”. This is to prevent persons who are genuinely unable to pay their council tax from being committed to prison. The Government does not have any plans to change the current arrangements.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Jake Berry: Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015 all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually their payment performance annually.The Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain in public sector contracts, to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.

Social Rented Housing: Waiting Lists

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the validity of reports that local authorities are excluding people from social housing waiting lists due to (a) a history of rent arrears, (b) criminal convictions and (c) experience of rough sleeping.

Kit Malthouse: The Localism Act 2011 gave local authorities the power to set their own qualification criteria for social housing. They can now decide who should qualify for social housing in their area, and develop solutions which make best use of the social housing stock. The Localism Act also retained the statutory ‘reasonable preference’ requirements which ensure that overall priority for social housing goes to those in housing need, including homeless households, those in overcrowded housing, and those with medical and welfare needs.The Social Housing Green Paper published in August this year (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-new-deal-for-social-housing) sets out an intention to undertake an evidence collection exercise to help us understand how the social housing allocation framework is playing out in local areas and if it is striking the right balance of fairness, support and aspiration. The exercise will include a focus on how local authority flexibilities on qualification and prioritisation are being used in practice.

Housing: Energy

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much Homes England plans to spend on increasing the energy efficiency of housing stock over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Kit Malthouse: Homes England funding supports the delivery of homes through many forms of construction that deliver energy efficient homes. Recognising that building more homes using modern methods of construction can deliver good-quality homes with higher energy efficiency to buyers, we are keen to see house builders embrace innovation and take advantage of new technologies to provide better quality homes to consumers and give them greater choice. Small and medium sized builders who use modern methods of construction to deliver homes can apply for funding from our £4.5 billion Home Building Fund.Budgets for the next 10 years will be set in due course.

Landlords: Greater London

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many landlords who own properties in the (a) London borough of Lewisham and b) Lewisham Deptford constituency are on the Government's register of rogue landlords.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: No landlords who own properties in the London Borough of Lewisham and the Lewisham Deptford constituency are on the database of rogue landlord and property agents, which records landlords and agents who have received banning orders.The Government does not expect the database of rogue landlords and property agents to be populated until the New Year.

Affordable Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2018 to Question 185515 on Homes England Finance, what estimate he has made of the amount of grant funding available for construction of affordable homes in each financial year between 2018-19 and 2022-23.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of the tenants that are evicted by their landlord before the end date of their tenancy.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The 2016-17 English Housing Survey found that 10 per cent of private renters who have moved in the last three years have done so because they were ‘asked to leave or given notice by the landlord’. Government is committed to taking steps to make renting more secure. In the private rented sector, we have recently consulted on overcoming the barriers to longer tenancies. We will be responding shortly.Most social tenants have lifetime tenancies which do not have an end date.

Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission: Public Appointments

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission (a) when and (b) where the position of Chair of that Commission was advertised.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applicants there were for the position of Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many candidates were were shortlisted for the role of Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the candidates who applied for the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission were deemed appointable.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the selection process for the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission was.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who was on the advisory assessment panel for the appointment of the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who the Chair was of the advisory assessment panel for the appointment of the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the panel for the appointment of the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission took to ensure that the people shortlisted for the appointment had diverse (a) skills, (b) experience and (c) backgrounds.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he took to ensure the appointment of the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission was transparent.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the panel for the appointment of the Chair of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission took to ensure the principles of public appointments were satisfied through the appointment process.

Kit Malthouse: In selecting Commissioners to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, the Secretary of State’s priority is to assemble experts who can provide expertise and challenge on design quality and who are committed to building places that communities value and support. The role of Chair is an advisory role and was appointed directly. Professor Sir Roger Scruton’s commitment to promoting beauty in the built environment is well known and he has published extensively on the subject.

Council Tax

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of houses in the UK are marked as (a) empty and (b) a second home for Council Tax purposes.

Rishi Sunak: The Department does not collect this information for the UK. However, figures on the number of dwellings liable for council tax and those that are empty or are second homes in England can be found at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/755950/Local_Authority_Council_Tax_base_England_2018_Statistical_Release.pdf.

Temporary Accommodation: Autism

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many children with autism were placed into temporary accommodation out of borough after becoming homeless in the London Borough of Southwark in each of the last five years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: My Department does not collect this information.

Housing Revenue Accounts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is the Government's policy to allow homes for market (a) rent and (b) sale to be kept in local authority housing revenue accounts.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Affordable Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2018 to Question 188719 on Affordable Housing, whether a delivery profile has been agreed.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Regional Planning and Development: North of England

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on the northern powerhouse project since 2014.

Jake Berry: Since the Northern Powerhouse was launched in 2014, we have seen increased investment, enhanced international profile for the North and devolved new powers to the North. Since 2014, we have:Released £3.4 billion of Local Growth Funding to locally-determined projects across the North. The Lancashire Growth Deal - £320 million – is the largest of its kind outside of city regions. This has included 17 transport schemes, including £9million for the Clitheroe to Manchester Rail Line.Created the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, worth £400 million, to support SME’s to grow and scale-up. To date, this has supported 280 businesses.This Government has delivered unprecedented levels of investment in better transport across the North – over £13 billion (between 2015/16 – 2020/21) – more than any Government in history. We’ve given Transport for the North, £260 million, and equipped them with statutory powers to develop a Strategic Northern Transport Plan. The new Northern franchise will deliver new trains through the Northern Connect service, linking Accrington, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley and Chorley.Supported improvements in education in the North with £70 million for the Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy.Boosted the international profile of the Northern Powerhouse through a commitment of £15 million to support Northern Powerhouse Trade Missions and £7 million for a Northern Powerhouse Taskforce to boost trade and investment – completed over 50 missions, 18 in the last year alone.We seek to build on this success and have committed to refresh the Northern Powerhouse Strategy at Autumn Budget 2018.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Defence Electronics and Components Agency, (iii) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (iv) the UK Hydrographic Office, (v) the National Army Museum, (vi) the National Museum of the Royal Navy, (vii) the Royal Air Force Museum, (viii) Fleet Air Arm Museum, (ix) the Royal Marines Museum and (x) the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Defence Electronics and Components Agency, (iii) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (iv) the UK Hydrographic Office, (v) the National Army Museum, (vi) the National Museum of the Royal Navy, (vii) the Royal Air Force Museum, (viii) Fleet Air Arm Museum, (ix) the Royal Marines Museum and (x) the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The attached table shows the quantity and cost of electricity and natural gas used by the Ministry of Defence and the listed organisations in the last three years.



MOD - Quantity and cost of energy used
(Word Document, 27.12 KB)

Navy: Horn of Africa

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection the Royal Navy is providing for the protection of (a) coastal waters and (b) fishing stocks off the Horn of Africa.

Mark Lancaster: The Royal Navy does not conduct operations specifically for the protection of fishing stocks off the Horn of Africa, but has contributed ships and personnel to the European Union Counter Piracy Mission under Operation Atalanta. The Royal Navy also contributes, alongside 32 other countries, to Combined Maritime Forces, which conduct Maritime Security Operations in the region.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Radar

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the specification is for the radar in relation to expressions of interest for the Fleet Solid Support Ships.

Stuart Andrew: The Expressions of Interest process for the Fleet Solid Support ships did not include any technical specifications. The detailed technical specification requirements will be released to companies that are invited to negotiate for the Design and Manufacture contract.

Ministry of Defence: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Stuart Andrew: Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually on their payment performance. Her Majesty's Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.The Ministry of Defence has a contract condition (DEFCON 534) which states that all contractors shall pay subcontractors any sums due under an invoice no later than 30 days from when the contractor has determined the invoice is valid. The number of contracts that explicitly include DEFCON 534, or other clauses to this effect, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Equipment and Support: Staff

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the proportion of Defence Equipment and Support employees at each pay grade before that organisation became a Bespoke Trading Entity in 2014.

Stuart Andrew: Defence Equipment and Support employees remained on the previous Ministry of Defence pay grade structure until April 2017.Details of this are published on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-organisation-charts

European Fighter Aircraft: Safety Measures

Douglas Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2018 to Question 149024, whether the planned Enhanced Collision Awareness System (ECAS) for the Typhoon aircraft is compliant with MAA/Def Stan 00-970 (Aircraft Collision Avoidance System), Part 13 sub paragraph 1.1.9.1, in particular Resolution Awareness.

Stuart Andrew: The Typhoon Enhanced Collision Awareness is a collision awareness system rather than a collision avoidance system, and is not required to comply with Def Stan 00-970, part 13, sub-paragraph 1.1.9.1 (Aircraft Collision Avoidance System).

Armed Forces: Mesothelioma

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) service personnel and (b) veterans have been awarded (i) a War Disablement Pension and (ii) lump sum compensation for mesothelioma in each year since December 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: On 16 December 2015, it was announced that a change would be made to the War Pension Scheme legislation to enable the payment, on or after 11 April 2016, of a lump sum to veterans diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma. The number of veterans who have been awarded a War Disablement Pension for mesothelioma is: 11 April 2016 to 31 March 201721 April 2017 to 31 March 201861 April 2018 to 13 November 20181 The number of veterans who have been awarded a lump sum payment for mesothelioma under the War Pension Scheme: 11 April 2016 to 31 March 20171191 April 2017 to 31 March 2018851 April 2018 to 13 November 201838 There have been no compensation claims made by Service personnel for mesothelioma.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,  when (a) he and (b) a Minister in his Department last visited a cadet detachment in the north west of Northern Ireland.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: As Minister with responsibility for Cadets, I commend the good work Cadet forces do in Northern Ireland and welcome invitations to visit its Cadet establishments. I met with Cadets in East Londonderry on 23 June 2018. I also met Cadets in Belfast on 11 November 2018. The Secretary of State for Defence has not visited Cadets in north west Northern Ireland, although he did meet with Cadets on 8 September 2018 in Enniskillen.

Defence: Scotland

Ged Killen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188235 on Defence: Scotland and with reference to the Scottish Government's document entitled Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2017-18, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of disaggregating his Department's data on defence spending in Scotland to separate resource and capital expenditure.

Stuart Andrew: We do not collate data on total Defence spending figures for Scotland (or any other part of the UK) and, therefore, it cannot be disaggregated to separate resource and capital expenditure.

Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with Babcock on that company's financial position and any associated risk to his Department's programmes and to the capabilities of the armed forces.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of imposing special measures on the Vanguard-class life extension programme and sending officials from his Department to oversee the programme at Devonport.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) financial sustainability of the Vanguard-class life extension programme.

Stuart Andrew: As one of our key suppliers, we hold regular discussions with Babcock covering a wide range of programme and supply chain matters. We remain committed to working closely with Babcock to safely deliver submarine support work, including planned maintenance projects. The contract for HMS Vanguard's planned period of extended maintenance and refuel work was awarded in 2015 and is funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD has an existing team in Devonport in support of submarine maintenance delivery; this is part of a long-standing arrangement, which now includes increased performance monitoring.

Devonport Dockyard: Submarines

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with Babcock on building dockyard (a) capacity and (b) capability at Devonport to (i) maintain and defuel currently operational and future SSBN submarines, (b) maintain attack submarines and (c) defuel attack submarines; and what estimate he has made of the cost to Babcock of that work.

Stuart Andrew: To maintain our nuclear submarines in service and subsequently decommission and defuel these at the end of their operational lives, we need safe, secure and efficient specialist nuclear infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence is working with Babcock, Rolls-Royce, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator and the Office for Nuclear Regulation to determine future infrastructure requirements, docking durations and therefore investment decisions.

Devonport Dockyard: Nationalisation

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to return Devonport Dockyard to Government ownership.

Stuart Andrew: There are no plans to return Devonport Dockyard to Government ownership.

Shipping: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188742 on Shipping: procurement, what his Department's latest target dates are for achieving main gate approval for (a) the fleet solid support order and (b) the Type 31e first batch order.

Stuart Andrew: Main Gate approval will be achieved in sufficient time to allow contracts to be placed for the Fleet Solid Support ships and Type 31e frigates in 2020 and 2019 respectively.

Ministry of Defence: Boeing and Lockheed Martin

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the objectives are of his Department’s Prosperity Framework agreement with (a) Boeing and (b) Lockheed Martin.

Stuart Andrew: The Prosperity Frameworks between the Government and Boeing and Lockheed Martin seek to strengthen the UK's engagement with two of the world's largest aerospace and defence manufactures and to create new opportunities for UK supply companies to win work on their current and future major programmes.They also represent a shared ambition with each of these companies to expand their footprints in the UK and increase their UK research and development.

Ministry of Defence: Boeing and Lockheed Martin

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent activities his Department has undertaken with (a) Boeing and (b) Lockheed Martin as part of the Prosperity Framework agreements.

Stuart Andrew: Activities under the 2016 agreement with Boeing, include supplier development workshops to assist UK companies in bidding for work with Boeing and major events in the US to connect UK companies with key Boeing civil and defence decision-makers and buyers. In October 2018, the Government, Boeing and ADS (the UK trade association) organised a Defence Supplier Showcase.The Prosperity Framework with Lockheed Martin was signed in July 2018. A number of workshops have already been held to identify areas of opportunity and to undertake further detailed planning around future joint work.

Ministry of Defence: Contracts

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to sign further Prosperity Framework agreements.

Stuart Andrew: No further Prosperity Framework agreements are planned at this stage. However, we are open to signing further agreements where these offer the potential to grow a company's UK footprint, create new opportunities for UK suppliers and deliver benefits for wider UK prosperity.

Ministry of Defence: Ascent

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value is of his Department's contract with Ascent to operate the Military Flying Training System.

Stuart Andrew: The total value of the Department's contract with Ascent across 25 years is approximately £3.2 billion. This ensures the continued provision and modernisation of elementary flying training, basic flying training, and multi-engine pilot training to all UK military aircrew.

Air Force: Training

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons there is a reported backlog in the aircrew training organisation and pipeline run by RAF No 22 Group and its industry partner, Ascent.

Mark Lancaster: There have been delays in pilots progressing through flying training, principally resulting from the overall transition between the legacy and the new system. The UK Military Flying Training System is experiencing the biggest transformation in a generation, including the introduction of five new aircraft types and a significant update to the flying training system which will ensure the delivery of our future generation of aircrew.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has temporarily transferred any services performed by Babcock Defence Support Group back to his Department.

Stuart Andrew: None of the services presently covered by the Babcock Defence Support Group Service Provision and Transformation Contract have been transferred back to the Department.

Ministry of Defence: Babcock International

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total value of contracts between his Department and Babcock.

Stuart Andrew: The total value of the contacts the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has with Babcock is £22.37 billion.This analysis includes contracts in which Babcock are joint ventures or have a share with other suppliers. The figure provided is the attributable share of that contract value to Babcock.Information about the contracts that we place with industry is available on GOV.uk as part of our MOD Trade, Industry and Contracts statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/defence-trade-and-industry-indexIn addition, MOD contracts worth over £10,000 are published on the Government's Contracts Finder website, which is available on GOV.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Army: Recruitment

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the number of new recruits to the Army from each (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) region of the UK and (c) constituent part of the UK in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mark Lancaster: The information requested will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received from the public on universal credit; and how many of those representations were (a) positive and (b) negative of its introduction.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding her Departments has allocated to universal credit hardship payments.

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims have been made for universal credit hardship payment in Glasgow South West constituency to date.

Alok Sharma: As Universal Credit hardship payments are included in Annually Managed Expenditure there is no separate funding allocated to them. The information requested about the number of claims to hardship in the Glasgow South constituency is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants moved from legacy benefits onto universal credit during the natural migration phase that are entitled to less monthly benefit on universal credit than the legacy benefits.

Alok Sharma: Claimants only move from existing benefits to Universal Credit through natural migration when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. Their entitlement is then calculated on the rules of their new benefit.We are therefore unable to estimate whether their entitlement would be different under Universal Credit compared to legacy benefits.

Universal Credit: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home assessments have been provided to universal credit claimants living in the Easington constituency.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not available.

Personal Independence Payment: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home assessments have been provided to personal independence payment claimants living in the Easington constituency in each of the last five years.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Leeds

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sanctions were imposed on benefit claimants in Leeds by her Department in each of the last five years.

Alok Sharma: The available information on the number of benefit sanction decisions by local authority is regularly published and can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html We engage at a personal and individual level with all of our claimants and are committed to tailoring the support that we give, and any conditionality requirements to the specific circumstances of the individuals. We take a number of steps to make sure our decisions are fair. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good cause, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the legal basis for her Department's guidance stating that universal credit claims should be closed one day after a claimant fails to attend a claimant commitment appointment.

Alok Sharma: The Welfare Reform Act 2012, Section 4(1) (e), states that it is a condition of entitlement to Universal Credit that a claimant accepts a Claimant Commitment.Where a claimant has failed to attend an interview for the purposes of accepting a Claimant Commitment, their claim will be closed. We will notify the claimant that their claim has been closed and that they can phone or write to the Department to ask us to explain our decision and/or if they disagree with the decision, to ask us to look at the decision again.After the Department has looked at decisions again, there is a process known as Mandatory Reconsideration which is where an application for revision of a Universal Credit decision is considered by a Decision Maker. If claimants still disagree with the outcome they can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.Should there be any indication that the claimant is vulnerable we will seek to understand why the claimant failed to attend, and to explain the consequences of not re-engaging immediately. We will seek to make contact with the claimant and give them the opportunity to show good reason for non-attendance.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether posting a decision notice to close a claim for universal credit on an online journal to which the claimant no longer has access is consistent with the requirements of Regulations 7 and 51 of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2013 on notifying claimants about decisions.

Alok Sharma: Claimants do have access to their journal after their Universal Credit award is terminated. It is read-access only but that does mean they can read the decision notice which explains that their award has been terminated and how the decision can be disputed under regulation 7. Posting the notice to the journal does comply with regulation 51 as in law it is still a “written notice of the decision”.

Universal Credit: Liverpool

Dame Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to alter the timetable to roll out universal credit in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: The national roll-out of Universal Credit is nearing completion with over 85% of job centres already live, with this process set to fully complete by the end of 2018. Stopping roll-out would result in confusion for claimants already receiving Universal Credit, and for others who would be trapped for longer in a legacy benefit system consisting of 6 different benefits, each with separate rules, interacting in complicated ways, and creating perverse incentives. Universal Credit replaces these benefits simplifying the system and making work pay. As a result, people claiming Universal Credit move into work faster, stay in work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings.

Personal Independence Payment: Cancer

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 187016 on personal Independence Payment: Cancer, if she will place in the Library the number of people with (a) leukaemia, (b) myeloma, (c) Hodgkin’s lymphoma and (d) non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that are in receipt of personal independence payment.

Sarah Newton: The department has no plans to place these statistics in the Library as they are updated and published quarterly and are readily available on Stat Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk.The next publication date is 11th December 2018.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many health assessments were carried out on claimants of (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment support allowance in each of the last five years.

Sarah Newton: The number of health assessments that were carried out for Personal Independence Payments claimants in each of the last five years are shown in the table below. The increase in PIP assessments reflects the growth in new claims following the introduction of PIP in 2013 and the of reassessment of DLA to more areas. -Jun 2013 - March 2014April 2014 - March 2015April 2015 - March 2016April 2016 - March 2017April 2017 - March 2018PIP Health assessment reports received81,000555,000708,0001,003,0001,021,000Source: chargeable outputs trend summary report(Figures rounded to nearest 1k) The number of health assessments that were carried out for Employment Support Allowance claimants in each of the last five years are shown in the table below. -April 2013 - March 2014April 2014 - March 2015April 2015 - March 2016April 2016 - March 2017April 2017 - March 2018ESA Health assessment reports received638,000685,000742,000913,000913,000Source: Monthly Work Capability Summary MI report(Figures rounded to nearest 1k)

Universal Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of new claims for universal credit that were paid in full and on time which contain the (a) standard allowance only, (b) carer element, (c) child element, (d) childcare element, (e) disabled child element, (f) housing element  and (g) limited capability for work element.

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of claims for universal credit that received a portion of the initial payment on time which contain the (a) the standard allowance, (b) carer element, (c) child element, (d) childcare element, (e) disabled child element, (f) housing element and (g) limited capability for work element.

Alok Sharma: We are currently assessing this data and will release information once the necessary quality assurance work has taken place. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Universal Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to publish its internal review of universal support.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claimants of universal credit (a) requested and (b) received a new claim advance in each month from 31 December 2017 to the most recent month for which figures are available.

Alok Sharma: Around 60% of eligible new claims received an advance in October 2018. Subject to some fluctuation, this has been broadly consistent for every month for which the data has been requested.

Universal Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average monthly deduction to universal credit to repay debt was in the most recent year for which data is available.

Alok Sharma: The information is not readily available. This is because we cannot readily separate out debt from the total for deductions in Universal Credit. As a result, to provide this data would incur disproportionate cost.

Food Banks

Graham P Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to maintain a central record of the number of people who use foodbanks in the UK.

Justin Tomlinson: We have no current plans to develop official national statistics on food bank use. However, the Office for National Statistics is leading a project to improve statistics on household food insecurity by reviewing all existing official and non-official sources of data and looking at options to fill data gaps in partnership with government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions.

Centre for Health and Disability Assessments: Sunderland

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will (a) undertake a review of safety at the Sunderland assessment centre managed by the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments and (b) require the installation of CCTV recording equipment in that centre for the protection and security of staff and claimants.

Sarah Newton: A review of health and safety was carried out at Sunderland Assessment Centre on 18 October 2018. Reviews are undertaken regularly and the review considers risk and the appropriate measures to mitigate any risk. I can confirm that there is CCTV on the front door which covers the street entrance into the building.

Employment: Disability

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's White Paper, Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability, what progress she has made on meeting the target for the recruitment of Community Partners.

Sarah Newton: We committed to recruiting around 200 Community Partners, with disability expertise and local knowledge. We currently have 182 Community Partners in post nationally, and there are Community Partners in every Jobcentre Plus District.

Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants there were for personal independence payment in the special rules for terminal illness stream in (a) 2017, (b) 2016 and (c) 2015.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many successful applicants there were for personal independence payment in the special rules for terminal illness stream in (a) 2017, (b) 2016 and (c) 2015.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken to process personal independence applications in the special rules for terminal illness stream was in (a) 2017, (b) 2016 and (c) 2015.

Sarah Newton: The latest available data on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) registrations and clearances split by Terminally Ill Indicator (whether the claim was made under Normal Rules or Special Rules for the Terminally Ill) and clearance type (whether the claim was awarded, disallowed or withdrawn) every month for both new claims and reassessed claims, can be found on Stat Xplore at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. The latest available data on the average clearance times in working days for PIP claims every month from April 2013 to July 2018 for Special Rules for the Terminally Ill for both New Claims and Reassessments can be found in Table 5B of the tables: “Data tables: Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to July 2018” at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2018

Universal Credit: Maladministration

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit cases were deleted in error; and what the time taken was for those cases to be rebuilt in the most recent 12 months for which data are available.

Alok Sharma: It is not possible for a claimant or for front-line operational staff to delete a Universal Credit case in error.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria the Department provides to its partners to assess non-physical disabilities for clients applying for personal independence payment and disability living allowance.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department undertakes to ensure the applicants for personal independence payment and disability living allowance are assessed by accredited healthcare professionals for their specific disability or impairment.

Sarah Newton: PIP assessments focus on what impact a disability or impairment has on a claimant’s ability to carry out day to day tasks and activities. Therefore, DWP does not require Health Professionals to be specialists in specific conditions or impairments. They are expected to have a broad knowledge of different medical conditions and work with claimants to assess how these affect their daily life. Health Professionals carrying out PIP assessments have access to training such as evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development. All Health Professionals must have at least 2 years post full-registration experience. There is no requirement for applicants for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to undergo a face to face assessment with a healthcare professional.

Universal Credit

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has a target timescale for processing the mandatory reconsiderations of its decisions on the eligibility of people for universal credit.

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has a target timescale for hearing appeals against its decisions on the eligibility of people for universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The Department has no targets for processing a mandatory reconsideration. Our focus is on ensuring the decision is correct. The time necessary to do this can depend on the circumstances of the case. The Department does not administer appeals, which is the responsibility of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

Employment: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to assess the effectiveness of the Disability Confident scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research with Disability Confident employers to understand the effect that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their recruitment and retention attitudes and practices with regards to disabled people. We published the results of this research on 13 November 2018 The survey suggests the scheme has had a significant impact on disability employment practices

Jobseeker's Allowance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets her Department has for moving claimants onto jobseeker's allowance from other allowances and benefits.

Alok Sharma: There are no Departmental targets for moving people onto Jobseeker’s Allowance from other allowances and benefits. Every benefit claim is considered on its merits, and decisions are made based on the available evidence and the legislation according to which such decisions are made.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had (a) a telephone appointment, (b) a face to face appointment and (c) completed a digital journey with the Pension Wise guidance service in the 12 month period ending October 2018.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pension Wise guidance service, what information her Department holds on the (a) demographic characteristics of and (b) actions and decisions taken as a result of that guidance being sought by people who have completed a (i) telephone appointment, (ii) face-to-face appointment and (iii) digital journey with that service in the 12 month period ending October 2018.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September to Question 171273, what plans she has to publish data on the outcomes for people receiving support through the Youth Obligation.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of whether employers signing up to become (a) Disability Confident Committed, (b) Disability Confident Employers and (c) Disability Confident Leaders are increasing employment opportunities for disabled people.

Sarah Newton: DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research with Disability Confident employers to understand the effect that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their recruitment and retention attitudes and practices with regards to disabled people. We published the results of this research on 13 November 2018. The survey suggests the scheme has had a significant impact on disability employment practices

Employment: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability white paper, published on 30 November 2017, Cm. 9526, what progress has been made on researching and identifying means of providing employers with information and support on disability employment.

Sarah Newton: We announced in Improving Lives that we would "improve advice and support both at a national and local level, making sure it works for employers of all sizes, in particular for SMEs, and for their employees". An important part of this is our Disability Confident scheme which offers information and advice about employing disabled people and encourages employers to take leading roles in driving change. Over 9,500 employers are currently signed up to Disability Confident and that number grows weekly. We’re committed to continuously improving the support provided through Disability Confident. DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research with Disability Confident employers to understand the effect that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their recruitment and retention attitudes and practices with regards to disabled people. In addition, the research study aimed to understand what motivates employers to sign up to the scheme and what support those employers need to promote the scheme both within and outside of their organisation. We published the results of this research on 13 November 2018. The majority of employers surveyed were satisfied with the Disability Confident scheme, and as a positive expression of this satisfaction, nine in ten said they would recommend the scheme. However, the survey revealed some areas which could help improve the experience of employers who have already signed up We have action in place to meet these requests including:working with JCP to develop products that they can use and share with employers to help them on their Disability Confident journeys.providing Specialist Themed Events to provide in-depth learning on specific issues. Themes covered so far include mental health, workplace adjustments, recruitment processes, and supporting staff with terminal illnesses.working more closely with the third sector to ensure they understand how Disability Confident works and can promote it amongst the disabled people they work with.Providing a new “Find a job service” which provides a free facility for employers to post jobs and jobseekers to apply for those jobs. Jobseekers are now able to search for jobs displaying the Disability Confident badge, with over 8,000 Disability Confident vacancies currently listed on the site.providing new communications channels to ensure we can easily reach all Disability Confident employers with information, advice and case studies. The Disability Confident scheme has always been intended to be only part of the process of getting more disabled people into work. The Access to Work scheme can also provide support towards the costs of workplace adjustments and we have also conducted research into how that scheme operates and can be improved. We are integrating Access to Work communications into Disability Confident promotions so employers can easily understand how they can receive support with the costs of making workplace adjustments.

Support for Mortgage Interest

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2018 to Question 174049, (a) what data is available on the number of people in receipt of Support for Mortgage Interest before April 2018 that continue to receive that benefit and (b) how her Department defines the term vulnerable in relation to that support.

Sarah Newton: Data on the number of people in receipt of Support for Mortgage Interest before April 2018 that continue to receive that benefit is not available. For the purposes of Support for Mortgage Interest a vulnerable claimant is defined as a claimant who lacks the mental capacity to make a financial decision about whether or not to take the SMI Loan.

Personal Independence Payment: Multiple Sclerosis

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people with multiple sclerosis in Newcastle upon Tyne North are no longer eligible for the higher rate of mobility support as a result of the transition from disability living allowance to personal independence payments (PIP) in each year since PIP was introduced.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Zero Hours Contracts: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Youth unemployment down 50% since 2010, published on gov.uk on 16 October 2018, what proportion of recorded employment was under a zero-hours contract.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit: Students

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a student maintenance loan is classed as income in respect of applications for universal credit.

Alok Sharma: I refer the honourable Member to the reply to UIN 179316 on 18 October.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Farms: Ammonia

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's strategy is for cutting the amount of ammonia from farms.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government has a statutory commitment to reduce ammonia emissions from 2005 levels by 8% by 2020 and by 16% by 2030. Farming accounts for 88% of UK emissions of ammonia. The Government’s consultation on a Clean Air Strategy was published on 22 May. The Strategy proposed that the Government would require and support farmers to make investments in farm infrastructure and equipment that will reduce emissions. We sought views on 3 possible approaches to regulation to reduce ammonia emissions. Proposals included regulations to reduce emissions from storage and spreading of slurry and manure and from use of urea-based fertilisers. We are considering the responses to the consultation, and the final Strategy will be published by the end of this year. The Government is providing technical and financial support for farmers to invest in equipment to reduce ammonia emissions. Grants are currently available through the Countryside Productivity Scheme to help farmers purchase manure management equipment including low-emission spreaders and through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for slurry tank and lagoon covers for farmers in priority water catchments. Defra worked with farming industry organisations to develop a voluntary Code of good agricultural practice for reducing ammonia emissions which was published earlier this year. Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers will shortly be trained to deliver on-farm advice on ammonia mitigation methods. The Government has recently consulted on a new system of financial support for farmers, delivering public money for public goods. This includes improving air quality and reducing ammonia emissions.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

George Eustice: All contracts issued by Defra contain, within the standard terms and conditions, the following clauses: The authority shall pay all sums due to the contractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice. If a payment of an undisputed amount is not made by the authority by the due date, then the authority shall pay the contractor interest at the interest rate specified in the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. The contractor shall ensure that a provision is included in all subcontracts which requires payment to be made of all sums due to subcontractors within 30 days of the receipt of a valid invoice.

Chemicals: Regulation

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on negotiations with the EU on maintaining access to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals regulations after 29 March 2019; and what contingency plans he has made to ensure that a UK chemicals registration scheme would be officially recognised by the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s white paper on the future relationship between the UK and the EU proposes a UK-EU free trade area for goods, including chemicals, underpinned by a common rule book. We are seeking participation in ECHA, to ensure UK businesses could continue to register chemical substances directly. This remains part of ongoing negotiations with the EU. In the event of a no-deal, the EU (Withdrawal) Act will convert existing EU chemicals law, including REACH, into domestic law. This includes the registration of chemicals under a UK REACH system which will replicate the current EU approach. We have published a Technical Notice ‘Regulating Chemicals (REACH) if there’s no Brexit deal’. This sets out the implications for business and transitional measures to minimise disruption and ensure continuity in the event of a no deal. The Technical Notice is available via the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-chemicals-reach-if-theres-no-brexit-deal

Noise: Pollution

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to align UK noise pollution guidelines with the new WHO guidelines.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We will carefully consider these guidelines and their relevance to future policy. We will assess the supporting evidence base, as well as other relevant recent research carried out in the UK and abroad. We will be convening the Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits to consider any necessary updates to relevant UK noise pollution guidelines.

Air Pollution

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to support public health campaigns on air pollution in each of the last three years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: A total of £539,120 was provided to Southampton City Council (with Birmingham City Council, Derby City Council, Leeds City Council, Manchester City Council and Nottingham City Council) through the Air Quality Grant in 2016/17. The purpose of this funding was to run an air quality public awareness and engagement campaign. The campaign was in collaboration with Global Action Plan.A further £90,000 was provided to the Global Action Plan in support of Clean Air Day in 2018. The government already provides information on local and national air quality. A multi-day air quality forecast service is available to the public on the government’s UK-Air website. It provides up-to-date information on air pollution and has a postcode search facility to enable information to be provided at a local level. We will work with media outlets to improve public access to the air quality forecast and continue working with our technical partners to improve the accuracy and availability of localised air quality data and forecasts.The government also provides health advice to support vulnerable individuals during episodes of poor air quality and we also work closely with a network of key health stakeholders to provide alerts during high pollution episodes. In addition, Public Health England has published updated information about air pollution and health impacts:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution.In the Clean Air Strategy, which will be published in due course, we commit to improving the information we provide about air pollution, health impacts and the simple actions people can take to reduce their exposure and improve air quality. We will also work in partnership with health organisations to review where improvements can be made to the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) and associated health advice, for periods when pollution levels might be elevated.

Natural England: Finance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act), what plans he has to increase funding to Natural England.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Natural England, like all other Defra sponsored bodies, receives a budget to carry out its duties and responsibilities in line with what is affordable and the Government’s priorities for the natural environment. Natural England has responded to the need to balance public spending and to deploy resources to best effect. This is reflected in Natural England’s ‘Conservation 21’ strategy which sets out how it will work with local area based partners to deliver its core purpose. As part of planning for the Spending Review 2019, Defra will work with Natural England to determine the future funding necessary to deliver Natural England’s contribution to the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, including the scope for broadening its income base.

Nitrogen Oxides: Pollution Control

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care on the legal limit for nitrogen oxide pollution.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: In 2017 the Government published the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide, and its supplements in 2018, setting out how the UK would reduce exceedances of NO2. We have established a Ministerial Oversight Group to give Ministers from across Government direct oversight of the delivery of the plan. The group is attended by Ministerial representatives from DHSC, HMT, DfT and MHCLG.

Recycling: EU Law

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 2018 EU Circular Economy Package.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Circular Economy Package (CEP) was agreed at EU level in May this year. Member States now have two years from the date the CEP entered into force (by 5 July 2020) to transpose the package and bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the measures within it.As part of transposing the CEP, impact assessments will be developed showing the full cost/benefit analysis for transposing the CEP and published in due course as part of the Government consultation to implement the package.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle herds there were in the Somerset Central cull zone in the (a) cohort and (b) herds in existence monitoring groups; how many New Herd Incidents there were in each group; how many of those incidents were Officially TB Free Withdrawn; and what the (i) time at risk and (ii) calculated incidence rates were for each monitoring group between 26 August 2017 and 25 August 2018.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle herds there were in the Dorset Central cull zone in the (a) cohort and (b) herds in existence monitoring groups; how many New Herd Incidents there were in each group; how many of those incidents were Officially TB Free Withdrawn; and what the (i) time at risk and (ii) calculated incidence rates were for each group between 31 August 2017 and 30 August 2018.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle herds there were in the Gloucestershire Central cull zone in the (a) cohort and (b) herds in existence monitoring groups; how many New Herd Incidents there were in each group; how many of those incidents were Officially TB Free Withdrawn; and what the (i) time at risk and (ii) calculated incidence rates were for each group between 3 September 2017 and 2 September 2018.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 24th October 2018, how many cattle herds there were in the Gloucestershire Central cull zone in the (a) cohort and (b) herds in existence monitoring groups; how many and what proportion of herds were under restriction; and how many and what proportion of herds were Officially TB Free Withdrawn.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many herds in the Somerset central cull zone were (a) in the (i) cohort and (ii) herds in existence monitoring groups, (b) were under restriction and (c) were Officially Tuberculosis Free withdrawn on 24 October 2018; and what the prevalence in that zone was of (A) Herds Under Restriction and (B) herds that were Officially Tuberculosis Free withdrawn on that same date.

George Eustice: We do not yet hold this data for the time periods requested as the monitoring reporting of cattle TB incidence and prevalence in cull areas occurs at least one year in arrears to allow for a full year of monitoring after a cull starts. The corresponding data from 2013 to 2017 has been published on Gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-incidence-of-tb-in-cattle-in-licenced-badger-control-areas-in-2013-to-2017

Trees: Sheffield City Region

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote the use of the Urban Tree Manual announced by Government Tree Champion Sir William Worsley on 19 October 2018 in (a) Sheffield city region and (b) Barnsley.

David Rutley: The Urban Tree Manual was written with input from professional bodies representing Local Authority tree officers. The Manual has been promoted to national and regional press, including in an article by the Tree Champion in the Yorkshire Post announcing the launch of the Manual, and Forestry Commission will promote the manual further to Local Authorities.

Home Office

Community Policing

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral evidence of the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service of 19 June 2018 to the Home Affairs Select Committee, on Policing for the future, Q 564, HC 515, for what reasons neighbourhood policing has degraded.

Mr Nick Hurd: Crime and risk is changing but this Government continues to believe that good neighbourhood policing remains at the core of the British model of how we protect the public. That is why we are increasing total investment in the police system by over £460m in 2018-19, of which more than £280m from increased council tax precept will go direct to forces to spend locally.It is for operationally independent Chief Constables to decide how to best deploy officers in their force area to effectively serve and engage their communities and to build their trust and confidence. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to hold Chief constables and the force to account; making the police answerable to the communities they serve.HMICFRS has raised concerns about neighbourhood policing being eroded since the Government moved away from a centralised model. This year, inspectors found improvement but remain concerned about the balance between short-term response to demand, and longer-term prevention activity.The College of Policing published guidelines on modernising neighbourhood policing in March 2018. This year’s HMICFRS effectiveness report recommended that forces review their approach by October 2018 against these standards. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has also established an implementation group to support forces.

Drug Strategy Board: Membership

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the (a) names and (b) job titles of the members of the Drug Strategy Board.

Victoria Atkins: The Drug Strategy Board was established in December 2017 to oversee delivery of the Drug Strategy and drive action across Government and our partners.The Board’s members are: the Home Secretary (chair); the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability; the Secretary of State for Education; the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care; the Secretary of State for Justice; the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government; the Minister for the Cabinet Office; the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; the Director of Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at Public Health England; the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Lead for Drugs; the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ Lead for Alcohol and Substance Misuse; and the National Crime Agency.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Metropolitan Police plan to pursue an investigation into the alleged fraud committed by Vote Leave during the EU referendum 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd: Following the conclusion of an investigation into the campaign spending of Vote Leave and other campaigners during the 2016 EU referendum, the Electoral Commission made two referrals to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) regarding potential criminal offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The first referral was received by the MPS on 11 May 2018 and the second was received on 17 July 2018. On 7 September 2018 the MPS received over 2000 documents from the Electoral Commission in relation to both referrals.The decision to launch an investigation is entirely an operational matter for the police. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to comment on operational decisions made by the MPS concerning the Electoral Commission’s referrals.

Catalytic Converters: Theft

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles the were in each month in 2018; and how many of those thefts resulted in (a) an arrest and (b) a conviction.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects data on police recorded crime including theft from a vehicle. These are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The latest figures, for the year ending June 2018, can be accessed here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesappendixtables However, these data do not identify whether or not the theft is of a catalytic converter. The Home office does hold any data on how many thefts of catalytic convert-ers resulted in an arrest or a conviction.

UK Visas and Immigration: Post Offices

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussion he has had with the National Federation of SubPostmasters on the provision of UKVI services.

Caroline Nokes: We have not had any discussions with the National Federation of SubPostmasters on the provision of UKVI services. We maintain a commercial relationship and hold regular discussions with the Post Office who handle hard copy application forms and other associated services on our behalf.

Visas: Overseas Students

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many credibility interviews have been carried out for students by Entry Clearance Officers in academic year (a) 2017-18 (b) 2016-17, (c) 2015-16, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2013-14.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to credibility interviews.All published data available for International operations can be found at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-operations-transparency-data-august-2018

Visas: Overseas Students

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many members of staff are employed as Entry Clearance Officers assessing Tier 4 student visa applications.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff were employed as Entry Clearance Officers assessing Tier 4 student visa applications in the (a) 2017-18, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2015-16, (d) 2014-15 and (e)  2013-14 academic years.

Caroline Nokes: On 30 September 2018, the following numbers of Entry Clearance Officers and Entry Clearance Assistants were employed in relation to the processing of overseas visa applications: EO/ECOAO/ECA497724These staff can work on a range of case types and are not solely employed to process Tier 4 applications.Historic data for staffing levels in a respect of academic year periods is not held.

Visas: Applications

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  if his Department will undertake a review of time taken for visa application decisions to be expedited for those applying for leave to remain on under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Where an applicant provides credible evidence of the life-threatening illness or death of a close family member overseas, UKVI will expedite the application regardless of its date of submission, unless there are serious countervailing factors which necessitate holding the case. The speed with which a decision can be despatched on an expedited case depends on the completeness of the supporting evidence submitted. No review is planned.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to impose a cap on compensation payments for the Windrush generation and their descendants.

Caroline Nokes: The Government has published a consultation paper on the Windrush compensation scheme. Among the range of issues covered in the consultation, we are seeking views on whether a cap or maximum amount should be applied to a payment made under the scheme.We encourage people to respond to the consultation, which closed on 16 November, and welcome views on this matter.

Knives: Crime

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  what recent steps he has taken to tackle knife crime throughout the UK.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is very concerned about increases in knife crime and its impact on victims, families and communities. The action we are taking is set out in our Serious Violence Strategy and includes new legislation in the Offensive Weapons Bill, the Community Fund to support local initia-tives, the #knifefree media campaign, and continuing police action under Operation Sceptre.

Passports: Republic of Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  how many applications for UK passports from citizens of the Republic of Ireland were processed at the Belfast Passport Office between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.

Caroline Nokes: UK passports are issued to British nationals, and Her Majesty’s Passport Office does not hold records of other nationalities held by dual national passport applicants. Therefore the response provided is based on people who provided an ROI address at the time of their application. The volume of British passports printed between 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 for residents of the Republic of Ireland whose applications were processed by the Belfast passport office was 9,139.

Deportation

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice his Department has received related to the policy and practice of the removal to another country of a person who last lived there as a young child.

Caroline Nokes: The deportation of a foreign criminal is subject to the UK’s obligations under the ECHR and the Refugee Convention. Where an Article 8 claim is made, consideration is given to the public interest in deportation to determine if it is outweighed by a foreign criminal’s private or family life. The more serious the offence committed by a foreign criminal the greater the public interest in deportation.In the case of a foreign criminal sentenced to a period of imprisonment of less than four years, the public interest requires deportation unless the exceptions to deportation, set out in paragraphs 399 and 399A of the Immigration Rules, are met.In the case of a foreign criminal sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least four years, the public interest requires deportation except where there are very compelling circumstances. The Article 8 public interest considerations were approved by Parliament during the passage of the Immigration Act 2014.

Police Stations: Closures

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police stations have closed in each of the last eight years for which data is available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not collect information on police station closures.It is for democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioners, working with Chief Constables, to determine the best use of resources to effectively serve and engage their communities and to build their trust and confidence.

Refugees: Yazidis

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Yazidi women have been admitted to the UK under the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme.

Caroline Nokes: The UK’s resettlement programmes follow the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality, which means that we resettle solely based on needs identified by UNHCR through their established processes, rather than on the basis of ethno-religious origin.We believe that one way to protect the privacy of those being resettled and support their recovery and integration is to limit the amount of information about them that we make publicly available.We therefore do not routinely publish a religious and ethnic breakdown of those who have been resettled, however internal management information indicates the proportions of refugees who are recommended for resettlement and those who are subsequently accepted for resettlement are broadly consistent across religious denominations.

Kent Police: Finance

Sir Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial assistance he plans to provide to Kent Police in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government is confident that we will secure the right deal for the UK’s exit from the European Union. We are working with the police to make appropriate plans should they be required. Any force which faces significant unexpected costs may apply for additional funding through the Police Special Grant in the first instance. Kent Police has made a request for funding through Special Grant in respect of planning costs, which is being considered.

Sir Edward Heath

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will commission a review of Operation Conifer.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government has given careful consideration to a review of Operation Conifer but has concluded that there are no grounds to justify review or intervention by Government.

Sir Edward Heath

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to the public purse was of Operation Conifer; and what lessons have been learnt as a result of that operation.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold information on the total cost of Operation Conifer, as this is an operational matter for Wiltshire Police. However, in December 2017 the department provided £1.1 million of Special Grant funding towards the overall cost of the operation.Lessons were learnt from the various forms of scrutiny the operation was subject to, including an Independent Scrutiny Panel, two reviews by Operation Hydrant and a review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (as it was then). The findings of the operation were then published in the Summary Closure Report, which can be found at: https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/media/582/Op-Conifer-Summary-Closure-Report/pdf/Op_Conifer_Summary_Closure_Report.pdf

Home Office: Reviews

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable for the review of Home Office structures and processes announced by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 25 October 2018, Official Report, col 469 will be.

Caroline Nokes: We are currently considering the scope of this review which will have independent oversight and build on the Windrush lessons learned review.I will provide the House with further information on the scope and timing of the review in due course.

Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: Publications

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the capacity of his Department to publish independent chief inspector of border and immigration reports within the eight week timeframe.

Caroline Nokes: Wherever possible, the Department will lay Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) reports before Parliament within 8 weeks of receipt, or as soon as possible thereafter.It is important that the Department and Ministers give full consideration to the serious recommendations made in ICIBI reports. In some circumstances, this will take longer than 8 weeks due to the complexity or importance of the recommendations.In order to provide full transparency, reports will only be laid in Parliament when both Houses are sitting. This will sometimes necessitate a longer timeframe between submission of the report and publication.

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what documentation will be provided to non-EU family members of EU citizens who are granted pre-settled status to enable them to travel to and from the UK.

Caroline Nokes: As set out in the Statement of Intent published on 21 June, eligible non-EU family members granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme will be issued with a status in a digital form. In addition, they will also be issued with a biometric residence card, where they do not already hold a biometric residence card issued under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016.A biometric residence card, together with a valid passport, will enable non-EU family members to travel to and from the UK.Until the end of the planned implementation period, EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, will continue to have the same rights and status, and are subject to the same residence and travel requirements as under EU law.

Deportation: Children

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Calais leave status will be extended to minors present in Calais months before the demolition of the Calais camp in 2016 and who entered the UK through the family reunification route and now face deportation.

Caroline Nokes: Calais leave is a bespoke form of leave, introduced specifically for those children transferred to the UK between 17 October 2016 and 13 July 2017 as part of the Calais camp clearance to reunite with family and who did not qualify for leave to remain in the UK under existing Immigration Rules. It was created in recognition of the specific circumstances that surrounded the clearance of the camp and the transfer of children to the UK.In agreement with the French Government, the UK took unprecedented action to remove children from a dangerous situation to reunite them with their family in the UK. A total of 549 children were brought to the UK to join family members as part of this process. Granting leave to those transferred from Calais is in keeping with our ongoing commitment to those individuals.The Dublin Regulation determines the Member State responsible for assessing an asylum claim and does not confer any right to remain in the UK. An unaccompanied child who is transferred to the UK to reunite with family here under the Dublin Regulation will have their asylum claim considered in line with our published policy and guidance. It would not be possible for the UK to unilaterally alter the purpose of transfers under the Dublin Regulation

Immigration

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188218 on Immigrants: EU Nationals, when she plans to lay the immigration White Paper before the House.

Caroline Nokes: We will publish a White Paper on the future border and immigration system later this year.

UK Visas and Immigration: Staff

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188216 on Immigrants: EU Nationals, how many of those 1,500 UKVI European Casework staff are in post.

Caroline Nokes: We currently have 1,215 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) European Casework staff in post and we expect to have all of the 1,500 in post before the end of the year.

Migrant Workers: EU Nationals

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188866 on Immigrants: EU Nationals, what guidance her Department will provide to employers on how to distinguish between a National Identity card from a non-UK EU citizen job applicant who arrived in the UK (a) before and (b) after March 2019.

Caroline Nokes: As previously stated, the current arrangements for employers carrying out document checks on prospective employees who are EU citizens will not change immediately after the UK leaves the EU. Under these arrangements, employers will not be expected to differentiate between EU citizens who arrived in the UK before and after March 2019.

Kweku Adoboli

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when an assessment was (a) first and (b) last made of the danger Kweku Adoboli represents to the United Kingdom.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Offenders: Deportation

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Stephen Shaw's report entitled Assessment of Government progress in implementing the report on the welfare in detention of vulnerable persons, published in July 2018, what public comment other than his statement of 24 July 2018 he has made on Stephen Shaw's finding that it is disproportionate to deport foreign national offenders who were last resident in their country of origin when very young; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: Since the Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament on 24 July, he has made no further public statement about this finding.As set out in the Immigration Act 2014, Parliament has stated that the deportation of foreign criminals is in the public interest. The more serious the offence committed by a foreign criminal the greater the public interest in a deportation. However, this is subject to the UK’s obligations under the ECHR and the Refugee Convention.In the case of a foreign national sentenced to a period of imprisonment of at least four years, where the public interest requires deportation unless there are very compelling circumstances, the length of time a person has lived in the UK as well as the strength of their social, cultural and family ties to the UK are all relevant factors taken into account when considering an Article 8 claim.The Government has no plans to amend the Article 8 public interest considerations approved by Parliament during the passage of the Immigration Act 2014.

Diamorphine: Glasgow

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a legal exemption will be required for the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership to prescribe and supervise the consumption of diamorphine for the treatment of chronic heroin addiction by street drug users who present to a clinic of that partnership.

Victoria Atkins: The Government supports local areas that prescribe diamorphine as part of a treatment plan for those with a chronic heroin addiction. Prescription of diamorphine is a clinical decision and is permitted through Home Office licenced premises. An application to licence premises, for this purpose, is currently being considered..

British Nationality: Children

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the fee was for submitting an application to register a child as British in each of the last seven years.

Caroline Nokes: Child registration fees from 2012 to 2018 are detailed within the table below: DATEFEEFinancial Year 2018-19£1,012Financial year 2017-18£973Financial year 2016-17£936Financial year 2015-16£749Financial year 2014-15£669Financial year 2013-14£673 1st child, £505 each subsequent childFinancial year 2012-13£551 1st child, £276 each subsequent child

EU Nationals: Health Services

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the immigration health surcharge will apply to EU citizens arriving in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: The Government are clear that any EU citizen who is resident in the UK before we leave the European Union in ​March 2019 will not pay the surcharge. We will set out our plans for a future global immigration system in due course.

Fires: Solar Power

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2018 to Question 163508 on Housing: Solar Power and with reference to the British Research Establishment's report, Fire and Solar PV Systems - Recommendations for the Fire and Rescue Services, published on 15 July 2017, what steps his Department plans to take as a result of those recommendations.

Mr Nick Hurd: None. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities to determine operational practices and policies. As part of this, it is for local fire and rescue authorities to consider firefighter guidance recommendations from this or any other such report.

Bedfordshire Police: Finance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what amount of special grant funding Bedfordshire Police have applied for; and for what purpose they have made that application.

Mr Nick Hurd: Bedfordshire Police have made an application for Special Grant funding for £4.6 million, mainly for a specialist operation to tackle gun and gang crime in the region (Operation Boson).

Immigrants: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's suitability criterion for settled status that the applicant must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC, whether his Department plans for non-working carers to be refused settled status on grounds of suitability.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will carry out comprehensive sickness insurance checks for those who are economically inactive in order to check that applicants meet the suitability criterion for settled status whereby he or she must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's suitability criterion for settled status that the applicant must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC, how misuse of rights will be defined.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's suitability criterion for settled status that the applicant must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC, what steps he is taking to ensure that workers with (a) zero-hours and (b) part-time contracts are not refused settled status as a result of their employment status.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's suitability criterion for settled status that the applicant must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC, whether the procedural guarantees provided for in Article 17(3) of the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community will apply to applicants who are refused settled status on suitability grounds.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's suitability criterion for settled status that the applicant must not be subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights under Directive 2004/38/EC, whether his Department has reviewed its definition of misuse of rights following the case of The Queen on the application of Gunars Gureckis v Secretary of State for the Home Department; The Queen on the application of Mariusz Cielecki v Secretary of State for the Home Department; The Queen on the application of Mariusz Perlinski v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 3298 (Admin).

Caroline Nokes: The draft Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union published on 14 November 2018 protects the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK by the end of the planned implementation period on 31 December 2020 and their family members. Article 20 sets out the circumstances in which it may be appropriate to restrict the right of entry or residence to such an EU citizen or their family member. The draft Withdrawal Agreement does not protect those who are not exercising or are misusing free movement rights, and it means that, while free movement rules continue to operate to the end of the planned implementation period, there will remain scope, consistent with the relevant case law, for a person to be removed from the UK on those grounds. It is logical that this is reflected in the Immigration Rules and published caseworker guidance for the EU Settlement Scheme, as it is in the provisions of and published caseworker guidance for the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 which provide for the operation in the UK of the Free Movement Directive (2004/83/EC). The guidance on the Regulations sets out how misuse of free movement rights is assessed and was reviewed following the Gureckis, Cielecki and Perlinski judgments in 2017. However, the Statement of Intent on the EU Settlement Scheme published on 21 June 2018 made clear that the UK has decided, as a matter of domestic policy, to be more generous than the draft Withdrawal Agreement in certain respects. In particular, those applying under the scheme will not be required to show that they meet all the requirements of current free movement rules, such as any requirement to have held comprehensive sickness insurance or generally to detail the exercise of specific rights under EU law, such as the right to work. This means that an applicant will not be refused status under the scheme because for example they are not economically active, their employment is not full-time or they do not hold comprehensive sickness insurance. An applicant refused status under the EU Settlement Scheme on eligibility or suitability grounds will be covered by the procedural guarantees provided for in Article 18(3) of the draft Withdrawal Agreement. Subject to Parliamentary approval of the primary legislation required to establish a right of appeal for the scheme, we intend that, consistent with Articles 18(3) and 21 of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, those applying under the scheme from 30 March 2019 will be given a statutory right of appeal if their application is refused.

Educational Testing Service

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the Test of English for International Communication tests were found to be (a) invalid and (b) questionable in the review carried out by Educational Testing Service for his Department in 2014.

Caroline Nokes: UKVI transparency data provides details of invalid and questionable test results in response to the abuse of secure English language testing. A link to the most recent available data is provided here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-february-2017The table in SELT_01 contains the information requested. The data was last published in February 2017 and only contains data to the last quarter (December 2016). ETS data is no longer published after this date.Further details (including on total number of test analysed by ETS) have previously been provided to the Home Affairs Select Committee. This information continues to be available on their website.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to provide assistance to victims of the Windrush scandal who report difficulty with the compensation process.

Caroline Nokes: The Government consultation on the Windrush Compensation Scheme was extended to 16 November. We are committed to establishing the scheme as quickly and carefully as possible, taking into account the outcome of that consultation. Further details on compensation will be made available when the scheme is established, including who is eligible to apply for compensation and how they can access the scheme.Ahead of the scheme coming into operation, the Home Office has already put measures in place to help those who are affected. This includes a dedicated team for vulnerable people within the Windrush taskforce, providing assistance where an urgent need for support or advice has been identified.

Companies: Ownership

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department has taken since the passing of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 to encourage Crown dependencies to introduce public registers of beneficial ownership.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office leads on the Government’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies on beneficial ownership. The Crown Dependencies have confirmed they will develop public registers of company beneficial ownership once it has been established as a global norm.The Government recently launched the global beneficial ownership transparency campaign to shift the global norms on beneficial ownership transparency by 2023.

Wales Office

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on Welsh speakers and Welsh-speaking communities.

Alun Cairns: The Government is committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom, including Welsh speaking communities. We continue to engage the devolved administrations, including the Welsh Government, fully in preparations for the UK's exit from the EU.

Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the Welsh Government, (c) the Welsh Language Commissioner and (d) the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee in the National Assembly for Wales on the potential effect on (i) Welsh speakers and (ii) Welsh-speaking communities of the UK leaving the EU.

Alun Cairns: I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues, the Welsh Government, and other key stakeholders, including representatives of Welsh speaking communities, on issues affecting Wales, including the impact of EU exit.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether there will be any reduction in support for the Welsh economy as a result of the transition from the European Regional Development Fund and European Structural Funds to the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Alun Cairns: Through the Industrial Strategy we are already delivering for Wales, from £36 million for the UK’s Active Building Centre in Swansea to the £120 million commitment for the North Wales Growth Deal. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides the UK with an enormous opportunity to redefine the way we invest our own money in line with the specific priorities that are unique to the people, communities and businesses across all nations of our Union.

Department of Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (iii) Public Health England, (iv) the Care Quality Commission, (v) the Health Research Authority, (vi) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, (vii) the Human Tissue Authority and (viii) Porton Biopharma Limited in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Caroline Dinenage: The quantity of electricity and natural gas used by the Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Public Health England (PHE), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) between 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2018 is shown in the attached table. Data for the Health Research Authority, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority is unavailable due to their office space being shared or energy costs included in a service charge. The Department does not hold data for Porton Biopharma Limited.



PQ189702 attached table
(Word Document, 12.64 KB)

Department of Health and Social Care: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by (i) his Department, (ii) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (iii) Public Health England, (iv) the Care Quality Commission, (v) the Health Research Authority, (vi) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, (vii) the Human Tissue Authority and (viii) Porton Biopharma Limited in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Caroline Dinenage: The cost of electricity and natural gas used by the Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Public Health England (PHE), the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the Health Research Authority (HRA), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) between 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2018 is shown in the attached table. Some data for the CQC, the HRA, the HFEA and the HTA is unavailable due to their office space being shared or energy costs included in a service charge. The Department does not hold data for Porton Biopharma Limited.



PQ189703 attached table
(Word Document, 12.86 KB)

Department of Health and Social Care: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has standard terms and conditions it uses for the procurement of goods and services. These conditions contain a clause that require contractors to pay sums to sub-contractors within 30 days of verifying that the invoice is valid and undisputed. The conditions also require sub-contractors to include a clause to the same effect into any contracts it enters into for the purpose of performing the contract. Regulation 113(6) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102) (‘The Regulations’) implies a term into the relevant public contracts requiring payment within 30 days, even if the contract itself does not contain express provisions. Therefore, all contracts covered by s.113 of the Regulations are deemed to include provisions to impose the applicable payment terms.

Rehabilitation

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that multi-disciplinary community rehabilitation services are available throughout England; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: Rehabilitation services should be built around the patient, addressing their needs in an integrated manner and close to home, where safe to do so. This patient centred, integrated approach based closer to home, underpins the system’s wider approach to transforming our health and care system through sustainability and transformation partnerships and new care models. NHS England’s Commissioning Rehabilitation Guidance (2016) encourages and supports commissioning of integrated, person-centred rehabilitation services delivered close to home across England. It states that that effective partnerships across teams are central to providing the right support to patients. This includes providing rehabilitation services that meet both mental and physical health needs.

Eating Disorders: Lancashire

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many inpatient deaths there were in (a) Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust for which an eating disorder was the underlying cause of death in each of the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This information is not available in the format requested.

Palliative Care: Children

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if Health Education England will (a) make an estimate of the demand for nurses from voluntary sector children’s palliative care organisations and (b) include that demand in its planning models.

Caroline Dinenage: In ‘Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future’, Health Education England’s (HEE) draft health and care workforce strategy for England, HEE set out the intention to collect workforce data and develop planning processes that recognise the full range of settings within which clinical staff are employed, which will include areas such as palliative care in the voluntary sector.

NHS: Directors

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the boards of (a) NHS Trusts, (b) Care Commissioning Groups and (c) other NHS bodies include allied health professionals; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) can be on the boards of any National Health Service body. NHS England published the ‘AHPs into Action’ framework in January 2017, which outlines the impact and potential of AHPs, including as members of boards. NHS Improvement has commissioned research into AHP leadership in NHS provider organisations, and has published ‘Leadership of allied health professions in trusts: what exists and what matters’. There has been a measurable increase in the number of AHP strategic leadership positions over the last two years.

Autism: Children

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children aged between 5 and 11 were diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Dinenage: The number of children who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder is not collected centrally.

Health Services: Waiting Lists

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has a target waiting time for non-urgent adult referrals; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: Patient access standards are already established for non-urgent adult referrals. These are described in The Handbook to The NHS Constitution which states patients have the right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions. The Handbook is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplements-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england

Cancer

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 12 November to Questions 188813 and 188814 on Cancer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of implementing the national data guardian opt-out on the quality of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey data.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We are giving full consideration to the potential advantages and disadvantages of the application of the national data opt-out to the national cancer patient experience survey beyond 2018/19, including the quality and completeness of data, and a decision on this will be communicated in due course.

Endometriosis

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding allocated to research on endometriosis; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including endometriosis; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Domestic Violence: Advisory Services

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many independent domestic violence advisers have been employed in each year since 2010.

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals have an independent domestic violence adviser service based permanently on-site.

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of hospital independent domestic violence advisor clients, were (a) women, (b) from black and minority ethnic backgrounds  and (c) over the age of 55 in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The total number of full time equivalent (FTE) independent domestic violence advisers in England and Wales, each year since 2014 is provided in the following table. Data was not collected pre-2014.YearTotal number of FTE independent domestic violence advisers2017897201681520157462014629 This data was published by the charity Safelives, in their 2016[1] and 2017[2] surveys of domestic abuse practitioners in England and Wales. In 2017, the percentage of independent domestic violence advisor services based in health settings was 15%2. The Department does not hold information on the number of independent domestic violence advisor services provided in National Health Service hospitals or any information relating to the clients of such services. Notes: 1Safelives’ 2016 Survey of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor provision in England and Wales, available at the following link: http://www.safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Getting%20it%20right%20first%20time%20-%20complete%20report.pdf 2Safelives’ 2017 Survey of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor provision in England and Wales, available at the following link: http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/SafeLives%202017%20survey%20of%20domestic%20abuse%20practitioners-web_0.pdf

Suicide

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of local authority suicide prevention plans: and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has worked in partnership with the local government sector to develop an approach to ensure the effectiveness of local suicide prevention plans. In October 2018, local authorities were invited to complete a self-assessment of their local plans. The self-assessment responses and the local plans will be analysed by an independent researcher and the results will be considered by an expert panel. This process will help to identify areas for improvement for local plans and areas of best practice which can be shared across the local government sector. The results will also be used to inform a programme of mutual support over the next two to three years to enable local areas to learn from each other and to further develop their plans.

Ambulance Services: Vandalism

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of (a) vandalism and (b) damage to (i) ambulances and (ii) other emergency response blue light vehicles; and what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on that matter.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government’s policy is on tackling the vandalism of ambulances.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has plans to bring forward legislative proposals for tougher penalties for people that vandalise ambulances.

Stephen Hammond: No such assessment has been made. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Ministers meet a variety of stakeholders to discuss a range of operational issues. The management of criminal damage to ambulance service vehicles is a matter for individual National Health Service ambulance trusts. NHS staff take precautions to secure and safeguard equipment and vehicles, and NHS organisations work with the police to seek redress and sanctions as well as pursuing compensation for damages to NHS assets. Ambulances by their function form an integral part of the critical infrastructure used by NHS staff to save lives when patients are most and risk and in need of clinical support. Any criminal damage, wilful act or theft of NHS assets is completely unacceptable. Damaged ambulance negates and removes precious and critical life-saving resources available to vulnerable patients. The Department has no current plans to bring forward new legislation regarding the vandalism of ambulance service response vehicles.

Ambulance Services: Crimes of Violence

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help protect ambulance workers from abusive and violent conduct.

Stephen Hammond: Employers across the National Health Service in England including ambulance services are responsible for protecting their staff. It is for them to work with their staff, accredited local security management specialists, their local Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to put in place policies and procedures aimed at reducing the likelihood of abusive and violent conduct while ensuring appropriate action is taken, including criminal or administrative sanctions, against perpetrators deliberately committing such acts. The new NHS Violence Reduction Strategy developed by the NHS will help ambulance services tackle abusive and violent conduct against their staff. The Strategy includes training in de-escalation techniques, continuing professional development of security staff, improving the safety of working environments, ensuring all organisations are clear about their responsibilities, a publicity campaign and work with the Police and CPS to ensure appropriate use is made of existing legislation and the new Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. In preparing the Strategy, there was an event with ambulance providers and work will start soon for a plan to tackle abusive and violent conduct against ambulance staff. Two ambulance services are assessing how body cameras could be used to help protect paramedics. Subject to the outcome, body cameras may be used by all ambulance services.

Self-harm: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people under the age of 18 were admitted to A&E for deliberate self harm in (a) the Sheffield City Region combined authority area and (b) Barnsley in the last two years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The following table shows the number of attendances at accident and emergency departments by patients aged under 18 with a recorded patient group of 'deliberate self harm', for 2016/17 and 2017/18, where the clinical commissioning group (CCG) of residence covers the Sheffield City Region combined authority area and Barnsley.  2016/172017/18Sheffield City Region Combined Authority area170130NHS Barnsley CCG2535NHS Doncaster CCG5560NHS Rotherham CCG2510NHS Sheffield CCG6030Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes:- Attendances do not represent the number of patients, as a person may attend a National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion within the period.- Data for the CCGs containing the patient’s normal home address has been provided. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another area for treatment.- The following four CCGs make up the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Area – data has been provided for each individual CCG as well as the combined total for the Sheffield City area:- NHS Barnsley CCG;- NHS Doncaster CCG;- NHS Rotherham CCG; and- NHS Sheffield CCG.- Due to disclosure control rules, NHS Digital must round sub-national HES data to the nearest five, which explains why the sum of the individual CCG breakdown does not match with the total figure for the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Area.- HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time should be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.

Suicide: Accident and Emergency Departments

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people admitted to A&E for attempted suicide who have later attempted it again in the last three years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Information on numbers of attempted suicides is not collected centrally.

Learning Disability: Community Care

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement of 10 November 2015 on Government response to ‘No voice unheard, no right ignored’ consultation, HCWS302, how much of the £45 million in funding made available to Transforming Care Partnerships has been spent; and how that funding has been allocated.

Caroline Dinenage: The quoted £45 million funding figure includes both revenue and capital funding elements: £30 million and £15 million respectively. NHS England made available up to £30 million of transformation funding over three years, with national funding conditional on match-funding from local commissioners. This funding was intended to support local areas with transitional costs associated with moving to a new community-based care model. The ‘Building the right support’ plan also committed NHS England to investing £15 million in capital schemes. Following the subsequent 2015 Spending Review, the transformation capital grants were increased to up to £20 million per year to be made available for the subsequent five years for investing in learning disability and autism capital projects. The following table summarises NHS England capital spend:For 2016/1711,050,000For 2017/1811,151,984For 2018/19 capital spend so far this year1,775,546Capital approved but not yet released8,055,696Capital applications currently going through approval process18,376,674

Learning Disability: Community Care

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect changes in the level of Government funding for local authorities on their capacity to provide care in the community for people with learning disabilities and autism since 2010.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) autism living in the community who have a local care and support navigator or key worker.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the October 2015 Government document Building the Right Support: A national implementation plan to develop community services and close inpatient facilities, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the process for collecting and sharing data on people with learning disabilities and autism.

Caroline Dinenage: Under the Care Act 2014 local authorities have a statutory duty to assess the care and support needs of an adult where it appears they have a need for support. This includes providing support in the community to people with learning disabilities and autism. In 2017/18, the total number of working age adults receiving long term social care support was 253,810. Of these around 45% have a primary reason for support given as learning disability. We have given local authorities access to up to £9.4 billion more dedicated funding for social care over the three years from 2017/18, including the Local Government Finance settlement announcement of a further £150 million for social care. This is supplemented by National Health Service expenditure for example on the development of community support for people with learning disability and autism which has supported a net reduction of around 19% in the number of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who were inpatients in mental health hospitals from a March 2015 baseline of 2,880. Progress in delivering Building the Right Support is monitored through the Assuring Transformation Dataset with published monthly reports setting out the number of inpatients and the number who have left hospital to live in the community. NHS England and NHS Digital are developing a reasonable adjustment flag on patients’ summary care records, which can be shared between services, information on the support needs and associated reasonable adjustments for a patient with learning disability or autism. We have not estimated the number of people with a learning disability or autism living in the community who have a local care and support navigator or key worker. The Department has commissioned the Institute of Public Care to review best practice in care co-ordination for people with a learning disability and long-term conditions who need healthcare services.

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the incident reporting requirements are for recording Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority of adverse clinical effects associated with fertility treatment for (a) the HFEA and (b) hospitals; and who is responsible for such incident reporting when a patient is no longer receiving treatment at a fertility clinic.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many adverse ovarian hypersensitivity syndrome incidents were recorded in licensed human fertilisation embryology authority clinics between 2011 and 2018; and what the severity grading of each such incident was.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to link the human fertilisation and embryology authority registry with the hospital, cancer and death registries to record the links between IVF treatment cycles and the incidence of (a) severe or moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, (b) cancer and (c) mortality among women.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 requires the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to investigate all serious adverse events that take place in its licensed establishments and all serious adverse reactions to treatment suffered by patients. The conditions of a HFEA licence require Persons Responsible at licensed establishments to report all serious adverse events, including near misses, and reactions to the HFEA. Licensed establishments are required to report any serious adverse reactions to treatment, that they are made aware of, even if the patient is no longer receiving fertility treatment. There is no duty on any other medical establishment to make reports to the HFEA. Cases of severe or critical Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) are considered to be serious adverse reactions to treatment. The information requested is shown in the following table: Mild*Mild/moderate*Moderate*Moderate*/severeSevereCritical2011962165946020124120931033020134022857460201441 (one intrauterine insemination)850143402015208421156020162912465400201724114274702018 (to 14 November 2018)147275750Source: HFEA Notes:The HFEA only requires clinics to report cases of severe or critical OHSS, although some clinics do report mild through to moderate cases. For that reason, this is not a complete picture of the occurrence of OHSS.The HFEA has advised that it believes the increase in the number of reports of severe OHSS in 2018 is the result of clearer guidance in its code of practice, linking to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ “Green Top” guidance on OHSS that includes a severity grading definition Identifying patient information, held on the HFEA’s register, can only be disclosed without the patient’s consent in very limited circumstances. The Government has no plans to lift those restrictions to enable the data to be routinely linked with other health or mortality registers.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of IVF cycles in which 15 or more eggs were collected where at least some of which were used for (a) egg sharing, (b) donation and (c) research purposes since 2013.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is shown in the following table:Year of cycleAll cycles where 15 or more eggs were collectedFresh cycles where 15 or more eggs where collectedThe cycle was an egg share cycleEggs were donated for treatment (non egg share cycles)Eggs were donated for research201310,11440848323201410,14131661528201510,66830764019201610,55728066518201711,207247762202018 (to 14 November2018)9,50317469620Source: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Note:The data includes fresh only cycles and includes only the initial usage of fresh eggs collected, not any subsequent changes in usage. The data is accurate as at 14 November 2018.

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many abortions (a) Marie Stopes International and (b) British Pregnancy Advisory Service carried out in each year between 2007 to 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The number of abortions by Marie Stopes International (MSI) and British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) in England and Wales from 2007 to 2017 is shown in the following table:  MSIBPAS200763,26250,465200861,44450,685200957,68052,013201059,64951,450201157,33254,7742012*58,00357,131201360,43556,961201460,32758,271201563,80659,599201661,76462,528201759,97866,051 Note:*Figures for 2012 have been estimated due to missing clinic information.

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his tweet at 2pm on 25 September 2018 on the Panorama programme, Kids in Crisis, broadcast on 24 September 2018, what action he has taken to ensure children have the mental health support they need; and if he will meet with Sean Fletcher, the presenter of that programme.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government is making an additional £1.4 billion available for children’s mental health service transformation. Clinical commissioning group spend on children’s mental health has increased by 35% since 2015/16 and we are on target to see an additional 70,000 children annually in specialist NHS health services by 2020/21. We published ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision: a Green Paper’ in December last year. This set out ambitious proposals to fill the gap in support for children and young people’s mental health. We are:- Incentivising and supporting all schools and colleges to identify and train a Designated Senior Lead for Mental Health - funding new training to help leads put in place whole school approaches to mental health;- Introducing new Mental Health Support Teams working in or near schools and colleges to provide earlier access to a wider range of support and treatments; and- Piloting a new four week waiting time for NHS children and young people’s mental health services so that specialist help is available sooner.  We will pilot our proposals through our trailblazer sites, which will be announced soon. I will be meeting with Sean Fletcher, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to discuss children and young people’s mental health.

Eating Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2018 to Question 183515 on Eating Disorders, what his assessment is of the finding of the research conducted by the vice chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Eating Disorders Faculty, published by the Post Graduate Medical Journal in April 2018, that 20 per cent of medical schools do not include any training on eating disorders.

Stephen Hammond: The General Medical Council (GMC) set standards for medical education. The GMC are clear that all doctors should have a good understanding of a wide range of mental and physical health conditions, including those related to nutrition and eating disorders. The outcome requirements set by the GMC for all stages of United Kingdom medical education and training require medical students and doctors in training to be able to identify and act where adults and children are vulnerable. These outcomes have recently been revised and include more emphasis on mental health and nutrition.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the finding in the National Audit Office’s report, Improving children and young people’s mental health services, published in October 2018, that the Government’s programmes will not deliver the Future in Mind proposals in full, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that finding.

Jackie Doyle-Price: We welcome the National Audit Office’s (NAO) focus in this important area and their recognition of the Government’s ambition to achieve parity of esteem for mental health. We accept that there are challenges and far more for Government to do in relation to children and young people’s mental health services. We are taking forward the headline commitment, made in Future in Mind, to improve access to children and young people’s mental health services, by enabling an additional 70,000 children and young people each year to access services. This commitment was re-stated as a recommendation within the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, which has been accepted by the Government and NHS England and we are on track to enable an extra 70,000 children and young people to access care by 2020/21. The Five Year Forward View is the cornerstone of the Government’s current ambitions to transform mental health services.

Health Services: Immigrants

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many migrants have been refused treatment on the NHS as they were unable to pay for treatment in each year since 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold information in the format requested.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prevent system errors occurring in the correspondence sent to women relating to cervical cancer screening.

Steve Brine: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women later died after missing an early cervical cancer screening as a result of not being sent a letter notifying them of the early screening.

Steve Brine: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of publicly-funded CAMHS in-patient services are delivered by private providers; and what the names are of those providers.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on CAMHS in-patient services in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that spend is received by private providers.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The following table shows total child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) expenditure for the last five years split by type of provider. The information relates to Tier 4 specialised mental health beds for children and young people, aged 13-18, commissioned by NHS England. CAMHS Tier 4 includes general inpatient care and specialised eating disorders services. These figures will include very small elements of non-in-patient services as we are unable to detail spend on inpatients only.  CAMHS ExpenditureExpenditure at Independent Sector (IS) Providers on CAMHSExpenditure at National Health Service Providers on CAMHSExpenditure at IS Providers on CAMHSExpenditure at NHS Providers on CAMHS £ million£ million£ million%%2013/14252.0122.0130.048%52%2014/15279.6120.3159.343%57%2015/16319.1136.6182.543%57%2016/17341.5156.4185.146%54%2017/18355.2156.5198.744%56% Spend in Independent Sector providers in 2017/18 totalled £156.5 million.

Postnatal Care

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to include a maternal six-week check in the new General Medical Services contract; and when the current negotiations will conclude.

Steve Brine: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to Child and adolescent mental health services on acceptable waiting times for clinical assessments from the date of referral.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Consultant-led non-urgent mental health treatments are covered by the general National Health Service 18 week waiting time standard. Additionally, in 2016 NHS England published the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health which includes the following waiting times targets for mental health services, to be achieved by 2020/21:- For accessing ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ services 75% of referrals should be seen within six weeks and 95% should be seen within 18 weeks;- For eating disorder services 95% of referrals should be seen within four weeks for routine cases and 95% of urgent referrals should be seen within one week; and- For the Early Intervention in Psychosis programme 50% of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis should start a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended package of care within two weeks of referral, rising to 60%. We are on track to meet these targets, which are tracked on the Five Year Forward View dashboard, available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/mental-health-five-year-forward-view-dashboard/

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been referred for pulmonary rehabilitation in accordance with NICE guidelines in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have access to community rehabilitation in accordance with NICE guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government was informed about allegations of violations of electoral law against (a) Vote Leave and BeLeave and (b) Leave.EU by (i) the police and (ii) any other public service.

Oliver Dowden: Any allegations of violations of electoral law are for the independent Electoral Commission to investigate. The Electoral Commission has published reports on its investigations into Vote Leave, BeLeave and Leave.EU, and transferred those cases to other organisations independent of government to investigate. As a matter of principle the Government does not comment on live law enforcement investigations.

Employment: Hearing Impairment

Liz Twist: To ask the Minister for theCabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of people whose primary medical condition is difficulty in hearing in the age range (a) 16 to 18, (b) 18 to 24, (c) 25 to 34, (d) 35 to 49, (e) 50 to 64 who have been in employment for each of the last five years for which figures available.

Liz Twist: To ask the Minister for theCabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of graduates whose primary medical condition is difficulty in hearing that are (a) in employment, (b) unemployed and (c) economically inactive.

Liz Twist: To ask the Minister for theCabinet Office, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of people whose primary medical condition is difficulty in hearing that work in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sector.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Public Sector: Disclosure of Information

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse for legal defence of public sector institutions for whistle blowing cases broken down by Department.

Oliver Dowden: The cost of legal defence of whistleblowing cases is not collected or held centrally either at a Civil Service level or broken down by Civil Service department. The data may be held at a departmental level. Information could potentially be obtained centrally, however this would incur a disproportionate cost.

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of payments to Gov.uk Verify identity providers in each of the last three years.

Oliver Dowden: I refer the Member to the answer provided for PQ 186439, which states that details of payments to the identity providers is commercially sensitive information and cannot be released. Any information that may lead to a breach of commercial sensitivity with our private sector suppliers would have a negative impact on the relationship between Government and its partners. We accept there is a general public interest in disclosure of information and we recognise that openness in government may increase public trust in and engagement with the government. These public interests have to be weighed against a strong public interest that policy-making and its implementation are of the highest quality and informed by a full consideration of all the options. It is important that government can work with partners to deliver a high quality service and maintain a high level of trust. Any information that may lead to a breach of commercial sensitivity would have a negative impact on the relationship between government and the identity providers. Taking into account all the circumstances of this case, we have concluded that the balance of the public interest favours withholding the information requested.

Department for International Trade

Cameroon: Natural Gas

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether provision was made in the July 2018 agreement on natural gas with the Cameroon Government for the allocation of revenues from that deal to improve the lives of Cameroon's poorest people.

Graham Stuart: The deal concluded in June 2018 is a commercial agreement between New Age and the Government of Cameroon to develop the Etinde offshore bloc along the Atlantic coast of Cameroon. The Department for International Trade is responsible for supporting British businesses around the world and promoting trade ties with country partners. New Age is one of the companies we support in Cameroon.Although a commercial opportunity, development of Etinde has the potential to help the poorest in Cameroonian society; creating jobs, improving local skills, generating wealth and contributing towards community development.

UK Trade with EU

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of potential challenges for producers exporting goods to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Graham Stuart: In 2016 there were 210,000 UK VAT registered importers and exporters for trade in goods with the EU, of which 138,000 traded solely with EU Member States.In July, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Trade, appointed Andrew Mitchell as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe to lead the Department’s efforts to grow the UK’s trading relationship with the EU.The recently announced £5 million uplift for our overseas network in Europe will build upon and strengthen our trade and investment links with European partners as we leave the EU, and support UK businesses to be able to sustain and grow exports and investment as we move into a new trading environment in Europe.

Exports: Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effect of leaving the EU on the export of Scottish goods and services.

Graham Stuart: Since the vote to leave the EU, and the formation of DIT, Scottish exports of goods and services have risen substantially. In the year to 2018Q2, Scottish exports of goods and services (excluding exports to the rest of the UK) totalled £32.4bn, an increase of 14.2% from the year to 2016Q2, but Scottish exports as % of Scottish GDP was 20.6% compared to 30.4% for UK exports as % of UK GDP (Sources: Scottish Government, GDP Quarterly National Accounts 2018Q2, ONS GDP First Quarterly Estimate 2018Q3).Reaching our UK aim of 35% and exploiting the benefits of post-EU trade deals will be helped by significant improvement in Scottish exporting performance, greater awareness of DIT services in Scotland and the constructive support of the Scottish Government.

Trade Fairs

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure his Department's trade show stands represents the whole of the UK.

Graham Stuart: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Musicians: Visas

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on the Incorporated Society of Musicians' proposal for a multi-entry touring visa for UK musicians touring the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of musicians in the UK that travel regularly to Europe to perform; and what discussions he has had with that sector on the potential effect of changes to travel after the UK leaves the EU.

Margot James: Whilst the government is clear that free movement will end as we leave the EU, we are aware that continued access to international talent and the ability for UK talent to tour are key concerns for the cultural and creative sectors. As set out in the White Paper on our future relationship with the EU, the UK will make a sovereign choice to seek reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU in a defined number of areas, for example to allow business professionals to move to provide services, or tourists to continue to travel visa-free. We have been collaborating closely with other government departments to help them to understand the particular needs of the music sector. My department benefits from research carried out by trade organisations and umbrella bodies.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Billing

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of contracts issued by his Department and contractors include provisions to impose, as between parties to the subcontract, that any payment due from the contractor to a subcontractor under the contract is to be made no later than the end of a period of 30 days from the date on which the relevant invoice is regarded as valid and undisputed, as required by the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Margot James: Through the Public Contract Regulations 2015, all public sector buyers must include 30-day payment terms in new public sector contracts; and require that this payment term be passed down the supply chain. Public sector buyers must also publish annually on their payment performance. Government strongly encourages businesses to report poor payment practice and instances of late payment, including late payment through the supply chain, in public sector contracts to its Mystery Shopper service. Mystery Shopper will then investigate.

Satellite Communications

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2018 to Question 186176 on Satellite Communications, if his Department will bring forward proposals to amend the Wireless telegraphy Act 2016 to make it illegal to possess a GPS jammer.

Margot James: Further to my answer of 7th November, the regulation of jammers of all types is a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator accountable to parliament, who have powers to deal with jammers. At this time we do not consider Ofcom need additional powers to deal with jammers but, in conjunction with the Home Office, we will be keeping this matter under review.

British Rowing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the Rowing Association's ability to trade and work with its counterpart clubs in EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.

Mims Davies: The government has outlined our aspiration to negotiate an agreement with the European Union on our future economic partnership that will include a UK-EU free trade area for goods, and a comprehensive package for services. We will also seek to negotiate a mobility framework with the EU that supports businesses to provide services, and allows people to travel freely without a visa for tourism and temporary business activity. Subject to the negotiations, we expect these measures to minimise barriers to UK businesses, including sports organisations such as British Rowing, in trading and working with their counterparts in the EU after we leave.

Broadcasting Programmes: Children

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Ofcom's report, children's content review: update, published on 24 July 2018, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on consulting stakeholders and industry on plans for the future provision of children's programmes on television and online.

Margot James: Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues, including on the provision of children’s content. With the Digital Economy Act 2017, Ofcom was given new powers to publish criteria on commercial public service broadcasters’ provision of children’s programming and, if appropriate, to set related conditions. In response to this, in November 2017 Ofcom launched a review of children’s content. Ofcom has asked the public service broadcasters to develop and share their plans to address Ofcom’s concerns on children’s content and we look forward to Ofcom’s assessment of these plans in due course. The government is also providing direct support to the development of children’s content through the Contestable Fund pilot, which will provide up to £60 million to help stimulate the provision and plurality of UK-originated content for young audiences and radio.

Charity Commission: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much (a) electricity and (b) natural gas the Charity Commission used in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost was of the (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by the Charity Commission in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mims Davies: The Charity Commission for England and Wales is a non-ministerial government department. The Commission is based across four sites and is the minor occupier at each site. Each sites’ main occupier is accountable for environmental and cost performance of their buildings and the Commission’s usage of gas and electricity is not separately metered.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department plans to close the (a) Big Lottery Fund office (i) on Churchill Way Cardiff and (ii) at Ladywell House Powys, (b) Heritage Lottery Fund office on Museum Place Cardiff and (d) Information Commissioner's Office on Churchill Way Cardiff.

Margot James: The civil service is going through a fundamental transformation in the way that we work and deliver services, not least through advances in technology. We are working with departments to deliver our commitments within the Government Estates Strategy and to ensure that we make the best use of our Government Estate assets, including the office estates. We have a particular commitment to consider locations outside of London as identified through our Places for Growth programme

Football: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of women above the age of 18 that have played football regularly in each year since 2010.

Mims Davies: Sport England collects data on the number of people aged 16+ who engage in sport and physical activity in England through the Active Lives Survey. The latest data is available online (covering the period May 2017 to May 2018): https://www.sportengland.org/media/13563/active-lives-adult-may-17-18-report.pdf The table below details Active Lives Survey data on the number of women that have played football regularly in each year since 2015. Active Lives Survey – women (16+) playing football twice per month: Active Lives Year 1 data (covering the Nov 15 - Nov 16 period)Active Lives 18 month interim data (May 16 - May 17)Active Lives Year 2 data (Nov 16 - Nov 17)Active Lives 30 month interim data (May 17 - May 18)Whole population2,299,000 (5.2% of English 16+ population)2,299,700 (5.1%)2,222,100 (5.0%)2,095,900 (4.7%)Female215,100 (0.9%)212,300 (0.9%)196,200 (0.9%)187,600 (0.8%) The Active Lives Survey replaced the Active People Survey which collected data from the period of October 2005 to September 2016. Archived data from the Active People Survey is available online: https://www.sportengland.org/research/about-our-research/active-people-survey/. Owing to the different methodologies employed, the data sets from the two surveys are not directly comparable.

UNESCO: Finance

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on the Government's funding of UNESCO.

Michael Ellis: No such discussions have taken place at this time.

Wembley Stadium

Graham P Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2018 to Question 185569 on Wembley Stadium, if he will publish the minutes of the meeting between the Minister for Sport and Civil Society and the Chief Executive of the Football Association.

Mims Davies: Details about such meetings, including discussion and schedules, are kept confidential - to allow full and frank discussions between Ministers and agencies.

Broadband: South Yorkshire

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the 31 October 2018 Government news release £200 million to kickstart full fibre broadband across the UK, how much of that funding will be allocated to South Yorkshire.

Margot James: We are committed to full fibre across the whole of the UK with nationwide coverage by 2033. The Government is committed to ensuring that the hardest to reach areas get connected at the same pace as the rest of the country and the £200 million announced at the Budget starts this plan.

General Practitioners: Data Protection

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of exempting General Practices from the General Data Protection Regulation that data controllers can no longer charge for processing subject access requests.

Margot James: The fundamental purpose of the General Data Protection Regulation is to provide individuals with greater protection and control over their personal data. Allowing General Practices to charge for providing responses to subject access requests would weaken the rights of patients. General Practices can still charge for repeat or excessive requests made by data subjects and for requests made by third parties such as insurers under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988. The Information Commissioner’s Office has updated its guidance on the Right to Access, which can be viewed on its website at ico.org.uk

Theatres: Merseyside

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support theatres in Merseyside.

Michael Ellis: In Merseyside, Arts Council England (ACE) has increased their National portfolio funding by 14% for the 2018-22 funding period. This includes investment in a number of theatre organisations, such as Liverpool Everyman, the Unity Theatre, the Royal Court, Collective Encounters and 20 Stories High. A new addition to ACE’s National portfolio for this period is Culture Liverpool, who have built on the legacy of European Capital of Culture 2008 to play a leading role in large scale outdoor and public art commissions. Culture Liverpool recently delivered the theatre production ‘Giant Spectacular’ which took place across Liverpool and the Wirral for a weekend, attracting over 1 million visitors. In addition to ACE’s National portfolio investment, they have made 81 awards from the Lottery-funded Grants for the Arts and Project Grants schemes to support theatre projects across Merseyside since April 2015, with investment totalling more than £1 million. ACE will also administer a Treasury award of £5 million for the capital development of the Shakespeare North theatre in Knowsley.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Energy

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the quantity was of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas used by her Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Karen Bradley: The Northern Ireland Office has used the following quantity of (a) electricity and (b) natural gas in each of the last three years: (a) electricity 2017/18 - 792,333 Kwh2016/17 - 805,366 Kwh2015/16 - 850,490 Kwh (b) natural gas 2017/18 - 17,410 m32016/17 - 18,133 m32015/16 - 22,803 m3